Motta Nets 1,000th Point In Triumph Over UMass Dartmouth

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State senior Nicholas Motta (Fairhaven, MA) registered a team-high 20 points and became the 26th player in school history to reach the 1,000 point milestone as the host Bears defeated Southeastern Massachusetts rival UMass Dartmouth, 76-67, in a non-conference men's basketball contest on Wednesday evening. 

With the win, BSU lifts its mark to 3-2 overall while the Corsairs slip to 1-3 on the young season.      

Motta, who entered the game with 999 points, wasted no time reaching the achievement, draining the first shot of the game 26 seconds into the tilt. 

Arguably his final shot of the night was more important as the senior canned a 3-pointer with 1:29 left to give BSU a 70-62 lead after seeing the Corsairs rattle of a 13-3 run to slice a 15-point advantage with under five minutes left to just five points.

Sophomore Samuel Johnson (North Chelmsford, MA) and senior Judah Jackson (Everett, MA) also had huge games for the Bears. Johnson notched 19 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, including 13 on the defensive end while Jackson flirted with a triple-double, posting 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Senior Corey Connor (Providence, RI) aided the BSU efforts with 10 points.

Senior Brandon Stephens (Dorchester, MA) led all players with 29 points for the Corsairs.  The senior connected on 7-of-12 3-pointers while also grabbing four boards. Stephens was the only UMD player in double figures.  Junior Alex Klepadlo (Bernardston, MA) and Freshman Steve Handy (Oak Bluffs, MA) helped the Corsair cause with eights points each while Handy hauled in a team-best seven rebounds.

Both teams return to action with 3 PM road matchups on Saturday afternoon. Bridgewater State makes the short trek to Norton to face Wheaton while UMass Dartmouth opens up Little East Conference play at Plymouth State.