By Ty Foster
Assistant Sports Editor

The Rams defeated Colby-Sawyer by one point in overtime to earn their first home victory of the season on Nov. 22.

Following a loss against the Chargers, the men’s basketball team has an overall record of 7-12.

Guard Tyrone Figueroa, a sophomore,  leads the team in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals. Figueroa averages 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

The key to the Rams’ success has been their bench. In all seven of the team’s victories, Framingham’s bench has outscored the opposing team’s substitutes.

Free throw and three-point shooting success have also led to wins. In six of seven victories, the Rams have produced a higher free throw and/or three-point percentage than their opponent.

Guard Juan Lopez, a sophomore, is in the top three in both categories.

“We need to improve on making our free throws throughout the stretch of games, and we need to become more confident in ourselves and each other when it comes to making shots or even taking shots,” he said.

Lopez also said that correcting these mistakes will place Framingham in the playoff picture.

One of the team’s captains, Yemi Ajao, said, “I believe we just need to value the basketball more and take more pride in our defense because we turn the ball over a little too much and we allow teams to score too high.”

The Rams average 20.4 turnovers per game compared to 12.6 assists per game. Currently opponents are averaging 2.2 more points per game than Framingham.

Forward Jamie Henderson, a shopmore, said, “We should go out and play like it’s our last every game. We are a very young team.”

On the 14-man roster, there is one senior, two juniors, five sophomores and six freshmen.

One of the brightest moments of the season thus far was the Rams’ first conference victory against MASCAC leader Westfield State in a 73-69 decision.

The win snapped the team’s longest losing streak of the season at five games, all of which were MASCAC opponents.

Ajao said the team played with more heart in the Westfield game than they did in the previous MASCAC games.

Lopez said, “There is nothing special about how we played. We played them like we played every other team, but we played together, and for the first time we wanted the ball and the game more.”

In victories, Framingham averages 75 points while their opponents average 66 points. In losses, the Rams average 64 points while their opponents average nine more points at 73 points.

Lopez believes the team’s chemistry is improving as the season progresses.

The majority of losses for the Rams came by less than a 10-point deficit. Only one loss was more than a 13-point decision, which was a defeat suffered in the sixth game of the season.

More than half of Framingham’s victories have ended in a double-digit lead. Also, Framingham is 5-2 when leading at halftime. Both overtime games this season – in which the Rams are 2-0 – came from the opposing team outscoring the Rams by the same number they trailed.

The Rams are 2-9 when trailing at halftime. More 50 percent of  the time the Rams trailed at the half, they also trailed in the second half as well.

The six remaining games in the regular schedule are grudge matches against conference opponents.

Henderson said, “When we play with heart, there’s no team in MASCAC that can beat us.”

Lopez also said, “If we continue to play the way we did [against Westfield State] and our bench plays the way they did we can compete against anybody in the conference.
“We look after each other – we make sure we’re doing what’s right on and off the court.” Henderson said.

A native of Texas, Henderson said, “Since I’ve been here, they have taken me in like a brother and I’m so blessed I came here.”

In just six games, Henderson averages six points and is among the top five on the team.

Henderson and the Rams are on the road for a rematch against Worcester State, Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for a MASCAC tip off.