Carl Stewart cans a 3-point basket for an early 3-0 lead, but the Owls struggled from beyond the arc the remainder of the game. Westfield shot 23 percent (9 for 38) from 3-point range. (Photo by Mickey Curtis)
WESTFIELD – Freshman guard James Sullivan scored a team-high 18 points and junior forward Philkwan Tate had 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds to lead Emmanuel College to a hard-fought 74-65 victory over Westfield State University in non-conference men’s basketball on Saturday.
Emmanuel notched its first victory of the season in four games while Westfield sustained its first setback in four starts.
Poor shooting, especially from 3-point range, and free throws plagued the Owls. After making two quick 3-point baskets to jump out to a 6-0 lead, the Owls struggled from beyond the arc and shattered the school record for 3-point attempts in a game.
Westfield only shot 32 percent from the field (19 for 58), including a staggering 9-for-38 performance from 3-point land. The former school record was 29 3-point attempts.
Also, the Owls allowed the most free throw attempts in a game by an opponent. Emmanuel went to the line 45 times and made 33 free throws. Westfield was 18 for 32 from the sin stripe in the foul-marred game in which the officials blew their whistles 57 times. Westfield was called for 29 fouls.
Only one player fouled out for the Owls but it was a key disqualification as leading scorer and team captain Grant Cooper picked up three quick fouls early in the second half, including a technical, and was done for the day with 18:14 remaining.
The closing minutes of the first half also were crucial. Westfield led 27-26 when Emmanuel went on an 11-0 run to take a 37-27 halftime lead. During the key run, the Saints scored on eight free throws and a Sullivan 3-point basket.
Emmanuel held a double-digit lead for most of the second half. Westfield made a final push, closing to within six points, 67-61, on a 3-point basket by Dan Johnson with 3:15 remaining. But Emmanuel guard Julian Diggs hit a huge floater in the lane to make it 69-61. Diggs canned two free throws for a 71-61 advantage at the 2:30 mark. Johnson nailed another trey to cut the deficit to seven, 71-64, with 1:33 remaining but the Owls ran out of time.
Four Owls scored in double figures, led by junior guard Jordan Santiago’s game-high 19 points. The former Westfield High School standout also had eight steals and four assists. Senior center Carl Stewart had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Scoring 10 points apiece off the bench were Johnson and freshman center Shane Pasquantonio.
