WPI 101, Nichols 80 

Dudley, MA --- The WPI Engineers and the Worcester State Lancers advanced to the championship game of the 2007 Worcester County Classic on Friday evening at Nichols. Worcester State earned an 82-72 victory over Becker in the first game of the night while WPI defeated the Bison 101-80 in game two. It marked the first time the Engineers posted over 100 points in a game since their 101-87 victory over WNEC on Jan. 17, 1998. Senior preseason All-America Antoine Coleman (Everett, MA) led WPI with 14 points and 16 rebounds. The Lancers were paced by senior Ryan Frazzica (Brockton, MA), who netted 20 points, in their victory.

Nichols hung with WPI well into the first half but the Engineers used a 19-4 run in the final 5:23 to head into the locker room with a 55-38 lead. WPI out-rebounded Nichols 32-18 in the half and knocked down 11 of 30 three-point attempts.

Coleman and freshman Kyle Nadeau (Webster, MA) each led the Engineers with nine points while senior Jim Marois (Worcester, MA) and freshman Ben Etten (Hollis, NH) chipped in with eight a piece. Sophomore Ryan Wilcox (West Granby, CT) posted 12 first half points for Nichols while junior John Costello (Tolland, CT) had seven points off the bench.

In the second half, WPI went up by as many as 32 points as it continued its three-point barrage. Junior Jerome Kirkland (Boston, MA) scored nine of his 14 points in the half as the Engineers finished with four players in double-figures. Marois joined Kirkland and Coleman with 14 points of his own while Nadeau had 12.

The Bison got a big second-half performance out of freshman Matt Lindberg (North Easton, MA) as he scored 12 of his 14 total points in the half off 5 of 8 shooting. Freshman Garrett Bishop (Saratoga Springs, NY) went just 1-10 from the field but shot 8-10 from the line to finish with ten points along with a team-high eight rebounds. Costello posted 11 points off 4 of 7 shooting and six boards. Wilcox was held scoreless in the second half.

In game one, Worcester State ran out to a 30-16 lead with 5:43 remaining in the half but Becker came on strong, closing out the half with a 19-9 drive to get to within four, 39-35, at the half. Junior Shawn Fuller (New Haven, CT) scored 11 of his 14 first-half points during the run while freshman Steve Jacobs (Lexington Park, MD) also added 14 points for the Hawks. Frassica led the Lancers with nine points in the half.

Worcester State began the second half with an 11-1 drive to retake the lead, 50-37, with 14:42 left to play. The Hawks stuck around despite shooting 31 percent in the half but were never able to get the lead below seven.

Joining Frassica in double figures was junior Elijah Sims (Worcester, MA) with 11 points for Worcester State. Senior Josh Barry (Sheffield, MA) pulled down 12 rebounds while classmate Will Spont (Bellingham, MA) hauled in 11. Suber finished with a game-high 21 points, including an 11 for 16 showing at the foul line, seven rebounds and five assists for Becker. Jacobs added 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Nichols will face Becker in the consolation game at 1 p.m. tomorrow. WPI will look to capture its fifth straight Worcester County Classic Title in the championship game against Worcester State at 3 p.m.

Release courtesy Nichols Sports Information