THE BASICS:
 
- Score: Fitchburg State 81, MIT 76
 
- Records: MIT (2-7); Fitchburg State (3-6)
 
- Location: Fitchburg, Mass. (Parkinson Gymnasium)
 
- The Lead: In the final game of the fall semester, the MIT men's basketball team fell to Fitchburg State by an 81-76 margin at Parkinson Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- The Falcons took an early 7-2 lead after a jumper from Frederick Siayor before the Engineers answered with a run that was capped by a three from first-year Tim Minicozzi (Belmont, Mass.) for a 19-15 advantage with 11:38 left in the first.
 
- Neither team led by more than four over the remainder of the first half as the teams went into the break deadlocked at 43-43 following a pair of free throws by FSU's Tajahn Joyner with two seconds remaining.
 
- First-year Parker Spann (Omaha, Neb.) scored on a layup on the first possession of the second to put MIT up before a three from Siayor gave the Falcons the lead for good at 46-45. The Engineers kept the margin to one possession over the first six minutes of the half before the Falcons extended the lead out to double digits at 10 at 62-52 following a layup from Nathaniel Semedo.
 
- MIT sliced into the lead quickly though and with 3:35 on the clock, the Engineers trailed by a 67-66 margin after a three from sophomore Kade Killeen (Austin, Texas). MIT was unable to pull ahead though as the teams traded free throws over the final minutes of the game, capped by a pair from the line by Siayor with eight seconds left.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Killeen paced the Engineers with 27 points to go along with a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench from Spann and 15 by Minicozzi. Overall, MIT held a 44-39 advantage in rebounding.
 
- Siayor led all scorers with 36 points for the Falcons, while Dayne Allen posted a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double and Joyner added 11.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT is now idle for the holiday break before returning to action on Wednesday, January 4th as the Engineers travel to Clark University for a 7 p.m. start.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
- For the latest on MIT Athletics, follow the Engineers via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.