Malden Catholic has its statement win of the winter.

Star junior Matt Gaffney scored 21 points while the Lancer defense allowed just 35 points over the last three quarters as Malden Catholic handed No. 1 Catholic Memorial its first in-state loss with a 64-54 win over the Knights on Friday night in Malden.

It was an impressive showing for the two-time defending Div. 2 state champion Lancers (8-9, 5-5) who were coming off consecutive losses to Xaverian and Millbury. The Knights (15-1, 9-1) lost Matthew St. Martin to an apparent shoulder injury in the third quarter while star freshman Josiah Adamson fouled out with seven minutes to play.

Courtesy of seven points from Adamson and a pair of baskets from Ryan Higgins and St, Martin, the Knights built a 37-25 lead midway through the second quarter. The Lancers, however, went on a 7-0 run capped off by two free throws from Messiah Johnson to pull within 37-32 going into the break.

A three-pointer by the Knights sharp shooter in Higgins and four points from Adamson put the Knights stretched the lead back to 48-39 nearly six minutes into the third, but from that point forward the hosts were nearly flawless.

Gaffney drilled two treys around a free throw to pull Malden Catholic within a pair, 48-46, after three. Then in the fourth the Lancers kept its foot on the gas pedal. A steal and layup by Gaffney tied the game at 48. Catholic Memorial retained a 52-50 lead with four minutes left. Gaffney, however, connected on two free throws and then finished all alone to put MC on top 56-54.

The Lancers never relinquished the lead. Over the final four minutes the Lancers held the visitors without a point and at the other end Stevie Joseph and Johnson cashed home breakaway baskets to send the home crowd into a frenzy.