Fitchburg, MA --- John Lowther (Hingham, MA) tallied a team-leading 20 points and six boards as WPI men's basketball never trailed while posting an 82-65 road victory at Fitchburg State on Tuesday evening. 

The Engineers, playing its sixth contest in the last 12 days, rebounded from their first loss on Sunday and are now 5-1 while the Falcons drop to 1-6 on the season.  It marks the third straight win in the series for the Crimson and Gray, who have won 16 of 18 meetings overall.  

WPI opened the contest on an 8-2 run as graduate student Colin McNamara (Arlington, MA) drained a three pointer before Fitchburg State cut the lead to 12-8 on a Darian Norwood (San Diego, CA) layup. 

The Engineers extended their lead (20-10) with sophomore Donovan Sevilla (San Ramon, CA) knocking down a three ball, but the Falcons countered when Norwood hit his own three-pointer to trim the lead to 29-23. 

The visitors would upped its advantage to 33-27 on a layup from Lowther.  Fitchburg State answered back when junior Quincy Taylor (Boston, MA) converted an and one to cut the lead to 33-30 before WPI took a 37-32 edge into the break on a McNamara layup. 

Following the break, WPI began the second half on a 10-1 run,, capped by a McNamara jumper. Fitchburg State answered back as junior Brian Tyrie (Hanson, MA) connected on a jumper off a feed from senior Dominik Williams (Newark, NJ), but the Engineers would take its largest lead of the contest (62-40) when sophomore Andrew Lufkin (Auburn, NH) registered a layup. 

The Falcons continued to battle, cutting the deficit to 76-63 on a free throw from sophomore Kerns Monvilus (Coral Springs, FL) and a Williams three-pointer before the Engineers secured the victory with sophomore John Adams (Douglas, MA) netting a jumper, resulting in the 82-65 final. 

FSU was led by Monvilus with a game-best 21 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Taylor chipped in with a double-double of 11 points and ten caroms as well as one block. 

Lowther highlighted all five WPI starters in double figures in scoring with 20 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor.  Freshman Aidan Callahan (Rowley, MA) added 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and one steal while McNamara totaled 13 points, three assists and three steals.  Kahleb Downing (Middletown, CT) finished with 11 points, including three 3-pointers and Adams narrowly missed this third straight double-double with 10 points and nine boards to go along with five assists. 

The Engineers were 35-of-69 (50.7%) shooting overall and (6-for-18) 33.3% from beyond the arc while holding a slight 35-32 margin on the glass.  Fitchburg State shot 25-for-53 (47.2%) from the field and (4-for-14) 28.6% from three-point land.

Both teams are back on the court next Tuesday with road contests.  WPI ventures to Waltham to face Brandeis at 7pm while the Falcons make their way to Boston to tangle with Emmanuel at 5:30pm.

Majority of Release Courtesy Fitchburg State Sports Information