Morris-Gray pours in 34 points to lead Men's Basketball to 88-71 win over NVU-Johnson

North Adams, MA- MCLA junior Dylan Morris-Gray scored a career best 34 points as he led the men's basketball team past the visiting NVU-Johnson Badgers 88-71 this evening in non conference action.  Gray was 14-22 from the floor and added 4 rebounds and two steals in the win.  The Trailblazers earn their first win of the season to move to 1-3.  The Badgers drop to 1-4 overall.

MCLA led early as Morris-Gray opened with nine straight points to give the hosts a 9-3 lead.  MCLA would lead 22-10 in the opening half before the Badgers stormed back using a 15-3 spurt to tie things up at 25-25.  From there, MCLA would regain control and eventually lead at halftime 39-35.

In the second half, MCLA came out firing.  The lead quickly grew to double digits as Bright Afful's layup made it 48-38 just three minutes into the half.  NVU would get within seven at 56-49, MCLA would pull away using a 8-2 run to take a sizable 64-51 advantage.  The lead would grow to as many as 21 late in the second half as the hosts kept the visitors at bay.

Morris-Gray connected on 3-7 attempts from beyond the arc and finished his night with 18 second half points.  Hayden Bird continued his strong play netting 15 points while going 5-11 from the floor.  Quentin Gittens filled the stat sheet with 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.

MCLA shot 43% from the floor in the game.

The Badgers were led by Josiah Wimberly's 16 points.  Romelle Watt and Lawson Ouellette chipped in with 11 apiece while Patrick Austin added 10.  NVU was held to 38% shooting and committed 15 turnovers on the night.

MCLA is off until Friday when they take on regional power Amherst College at 5pm in the opening round of their tournament.