Fitchburg State Shoots Past Clark, 90-70

Torres leads Falcons to a season-opening victory with a game-high 38 points

FITCHBURG, Mass. (November 15, 2008) - The Fitchburg State men's basketball team opened its 2008-09 campaign with a 90-70 victory over Clark University in non-conference action this afternoon.  

Fitchburg State senior captain Brian Torres (North Dighton, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) led all scorers with a game-high 38 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the field and a 4-for-6 performance from three-point range. Torres was also hot from the free-throw line, hitting 12-of-13 shots to go along with a team-high seven rebounds and four steals.

Classmate Jeffrey Kozik (Auburn, Mass./Auburn) finished with 12 points for the Falcons, including 6-for-11 from the free throw-stripe, while junior Colin London (Worcester, Mass./Doherty) added 11 points and three assists.

Senior Peter Normandin (Westminster, Mass./New Hampton) led the Clark attack with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and a game-high eight rebounds. Junior Mark Alexander (Providence, R.I./Marianapolis Prep) was also solid for the Cougars, totaling 19 points, two rebounds and three steals.

Torres came out firing for Fitchburg State, connecting for 18 first-half points. The Falcons sported a 19-9 lead midway through the period as senior Kyle Lussier (Hadley, Mass./Hopkins Academy) capped a 7-0 run with a lay-up at the 11:55 mark. Fitchburg State continued its offensive momentum, closing out the final four minutes of the half with an 11-0 explosion to take a 48-29 lead into the halftime

In the second half, Fitchburg State added to its lead early, going up by as much as 31 points just eight minute into the period. Torres continued his hot shooting with 20 second half points, while London and sophomore Elliot Knower (Templeton, Mass./Narragansett) each added six. Clark closed the scoring gap to 17 points, but the Falcons defense notched eight turnovers and six steals to secure their first victory of the season.

Fitchburg State (1-0, 0-0 MASCAC) will be in action again Tuesday as it travels to Connecticut College on 7 p.m. Clark (0-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) will travel to Becker College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 90, Clark 70