Men's Basketball Rallies for 74-70 MASCAC Win Over Fitchburg State

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's basketball team halted a six-game losing streak with a comeback victory Wednesday night at the Tinsley Center.

The Bears overcame a 15-point second-half deficit and defeated Fitchburg State University, 74-70, for their first win in 2025.

BSU (6-11, 1-4 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference) trailed, 48-33, with less than 18 minutes remaining.

But the Bears put together a 12-0 run in 3:28 to climb back into the game, then finished the game by outscoring the Falcons, 12-4, in the final 2:20.

BSU's last win was on Dec. 28 in Rhode Island when it outlasted Salve Regina University in double overtime.

The Bears used a balanced scoring attack in the win over Fitchburg State (4-13, 1-3 MASCAC).

Senior TJ Williams (Jupiter, Fla.) and junior Louis Jennings (Walpole, Mass.) had 19 points each with Williams grabbing eight rebounds and Jennings five.

Sophomore Josh Campbell (Plymouth, Mass.) added 16 points and five rebounds. Campbell was playing his second game after missing 10 in a row due to an injury.

Junior Samuel Omisore (Boston, Mass.) scored 14 points with nine rebounds and had a key blocked shot in the final minute, one of his three blocks in the game.

Junior Dante Kikuba (Framingham, Mass.) contributed eight rebounds, five assists and three steals, and his lone field goal put the Bears up, 70-67, with 38 seconds to go.

Fitchburg State, which has lost four in a row, was led by senior Nathaniel Semedo (Bridgewater, Mass.) with 15 points and five rebounds.

Junior Jalin Pitts (Palatka, Fla.) made 5 of 6 shots and scored 12 points with nine rebounds.

Also in double figures were junior Nicolas Von Zboray (Pollock Pines, Calif.) with 11 and sophomore Jalen Jackson (San Antonio, Texas) with 10.

BSU was behind at the half, 41-32, and the Falcons used a 7-1 run to open the second half for their largest lead of the night at 48-33 with 17:58 to go after a Jackson layup.

Campbell scored five of the 12 points in the run that allowed the Bears to close within 48-45 with 14:11 remaining.

Williams moved BSU within 53-51 by hitting two foul shots and a jumper with 11:40 to go.

The Bears pulled even with 6:38 left on a 3-pointer by sophomore Sam Sweeney (Burlington, Vt.).

Fitchburg State went back in front, 64-59, with 4:20 to go as Franks made two foul shots, then beat the shot clock with a jumper and sophomore Kamau Franks (Converse, Texas) hit a free throw.

A foul shot by Omisore and a Williams' drive pulled BSU within 64-62 with 3:15 left.

Pitts and Omisore exchanged baskets and Semedo made a foul shot with 1:51 remaining, putting the Falcons up, 67-64.

Omisore made two free throws with 1:39 left and after a steal by Kikuba, Williams converted a fast-break layup. That put BSU in front, 68-67, with 1:11 left and was the Bears' first lead since it was 17-15.

Omisore then blocked a shot and Kikuba scored on a drive for a 70-67 lead. After sophomore Matthew Drayton (Boston, Mass.) converted a three-point play inside, Campbell sealed the win with two foul shots with 10 seconds to go.

BSU made only 4 of 22 shots from 3-point range while Fitchburg State hit 6 of 24. Both teams were below 40 percent overall, the Bears shooting 38 percent and the Falcons 37 percent.

BSU is on the road Saturday to face first-place Westfield State University at noon, ending the opening half of the MASCAC schedule.

The Owls are on an eight-game winning streak and are 14-3 overall, 4-0 in the conference.

Fitchburg State will host Salem State University on Saturday at noon.

Tonight's game was also a KyleCares Foundation awareness event.

The family of Kyle Johnson createrd the KyleCares Foundation in 2019 in memory of Kyle and in recognition of his legacy of caring. KyleCares strives each day to promote open and honest communication about mental health challenges experienced by teens and young adults, and to assist in providing them with resources and support needed to navigate life's obstacles during their high school and college years. To learn more about this organization, visit their website at www.kylecaresinc.org.