WESTFIELD – The Westfield state men’s basketball team will face Babson College in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The Owls meet the Beavers (25-2), champions of the NEWMAC, and the rest of the Owls’ pod includes The University of Scranton (PA) and Baruch College (NY). Babson, located in Wellesley, Mass., will be the host site for the four team pod.
The Owls, 20-6 won both the regular season and tournament titles as champions of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. Westfield defeated Bridgewater State, 78-69, in the conference championship game on Saturday behind 22 points and 14 rebounds from senior forward Grant Cooper, who was named the tournament MVP.
Westfield is making its third NCAA tournament appearance. The Owls qualified in 1985 and in 1993. Westfield lost to Clark, 88-78, in 1985, and fell to UMass-Dartmouth, an eventual final four participant, 90-81, in the first round in 1993.
Westfield has won 15 of its last 16 games.
More details on the tournament (game times, ticket prices, previews, etc.) will be posted on www.westfieldstateowls.com as it becomes available.
