"We have got to learn to close out these close games." A visibly frustrated but resolved Malden head coach Don Nally said after the loss. "We are a young but, at some point we can't use that excuse.  We need to close out teams."

 

Malden led 33-27 at the half after senior reserve guard Danny Fuentes nailed a jumper as the halftime buzzer sounded. Malden built the lead with stout defense in the middle.  They held the Highlanders leading scorer, 6'4 junior center Craig Thomson Jr to just 8 point on the night.  Malden through a variety of big men at the junior center and kept him off balance for most of the night.  Thomson didn't help his own cause by going just 1-10 from the free throw line.

 

Malden was led by sophomore forward Isaiah Likely who scored a career-high 25 points off the bench.  The lefty hit a variety of shot from inside the paint and beyond the 3pt arc.  For much of the night, Likely kept the Tornadoes in the game with a number of hard drives to the basket and a couple key step back three point field goals.

 

"Isaiah has done a tremendous job for us off the bench and has earned the extra minutes he has received." Nally said.  "He is definitely pushing for more minutes and becoming one of our most trusted players."

 

While Malden was able to control Thomson, they were unable to handle the Highlanders dynamic backcourt of sophomore Lucas Saint-Jean and junior Chris David.  David kept Somerville in the game in the first half, scoring 12 of his 15 points in the first half while Saint-Jean was dynamic in both halves, finishing with a team-high 23 points, including two huge 3pt field goals down the stretch to put Somerville into the lead.

 

Malden had their chances down the stretch.  Junior Bernard Taylor's corner 3 point field goal rattled in and out with the Tornadoes trailing by 2 with under 20 seconds to go and senior captain Mark Rogers watched his 3pt field goal hit the back iron as time expired.  Malden will look to rebound against the always formidable Everett Crimson Tide Tuesday night at the Finn. Game time is set for 7pm.