MCLA Blog

North Adams - Vassar College moved to 8-1 on the season as they held on at the Amsler center 86-81 over the Mass. College Trailblazers. Seniors Lawrence Avitabile (Southington, CT/Southington) and Tyson Brazell (Salt Lake City, UT) combined for 49 points on 20 of 31 shooting from the field to lead Vassar’s men’s basketball team. Vassar and MCLA traded baskets early before Vassar opened up a 10 point lead about midway through the 1st half. MCLA battled back and went into the half down only 4 despite shooting just 39% in the 1st half. The game progressed to a game of cat and mouse as every time MCLA would make a run, Vassar would go on to increase their lead once again. MCLA got down as many as 14 with a little over 8 minutes remaining, before again clawing it’s way back in. A pair of 3 pointers by MCLA senior Jared Martin (Canton, NY) cut the lead to 5 with under a minute. Two missed free throws by Vassar gave MCLA the ball back, but MCLA turned it over and that all but sealed it. Both teams had a series of turnovers and missed free throws down the stretch. “We had a good effort, but we always have a good effort, we have to be able to execute and do the important things like make free throws, take care of the ball down the stretch to beat good teams. We are going into conference play where everygame is going to be close and a battle. If we want to be a factor in the conference we are going to have to do those things in the last 5 minutes” said MCLA coach Jamie Morrison. Dave Bisesi (Syracuse, NY) led MCLA with 19 points and Shalka Rivera (Springfield, MA) has 12 to go along with some very solid defensive play. Sophomore Benny Cuprill (Albany, NY) had 11 assists. MCLA falls to 5-6 and opens conference play Tuesday at Framingham State at 7:30PM

President Grant in the stands with MCLA’s cheering squad.

We start making fans early. This is Jason Canales (Class of 2000) and his son Brayden. Another Trailblazer in the family?