Men's Basketball Opens 2024-25 Season With 75-73 Setback To Tigers

Franks nets game-best 21 points for Green & Gold

Rochester, NY – The Fitchburg State men's basketball team dropped a 75-73 decision to the Tigers of RIT this evening as the Falcons opened their 2024-25 campaign at the 2024-25 RIT Invitational from the Clark Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 73, RIT 75

Records: Fitchburg State (0-1, 0-0 MASCAC) | RIT (1-0, 0-0 LL)

How It Happened

1st half

RIT grabbed an 8-2 advantage as senior Chase Dickens (Victor, NY) buried a three ball before Fitchburg State trimmed the deficit to 12-5 as sophomore Jalen Jackson (San Antonio, TX) hit a layup.

The Falcons continued to cut into the deficit with sophomore Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) connecting on three ball (18-15) before graduate student Matt Caggiano (Rochester, NY) drained a three-pointer for the 24-18 advantage, The Green and Gold reduced the lead to 37-31 with sophomore Matthew Drayton (Boston, MA) hitting a step back jumper, but the Tigers upped the lead to 46-32 with Dickens registering a three ball for the 49-34 advantage, going into the break.

2nd Half

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State cut into the deficit as Jackson hit a jumper and Franks buried a three pointer (51-39) before RIT pushed the lead to 55-45 on a pair of free throws from sophomore Brody Brown (Lowville, NY).

The Green and Gold answered back to knot the score at 67-67 as Drayton hit a bucket, while junior Jeremiah Simeon (Norwalk, CT) and senior Nathaniel Semedo (Bridgewater, MA) added a pair of free throws and a three pointer.

Fitchburg State would grab a 72-70 edge as Drayton connected on a layup, but RIT concluded the contest on 5-1 run, capped by a pair of free-throws from Caggiano, resulting in the 75-73 triumph.

Inside the Numbers

• Franks paced the Falcons with a game best 21 points, three rebound and four steals.
• Drayton added 16 points, two boards, two assists and one block for the Green and Gold
• For the Tigers, Dickens finished with a team-leading 20 points, 11 caroms, four assists and two blocks
• Caggiano chipped in with 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and one steal
• First meeting between the Falcons and Tigers on the hardwood with Fitchburg State 0-1 all-time when taking on RIT
• Fitchburg State shot 22-for-60 (36.7%) from the field and (7-of-18) 38.9% from three point range
• RIT finished 23-of-59 (39.0%) overall and (7-for-32) 33.3% for beyond the arc
• The Tigers finished with a 45-35 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action tomorrow as they take on the Lighting of Lehman College in the consolation game of the 2024-25 RIT Tipoff Invitational, starting at 1:30 PM.

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