PHIL DIPHILLIPO
WESTFIELD – Three Westfield State players scored in double figures and the Owls used a strong defense to trip Bard College (N.Y.), 67-43 in a non-conference men’s basketball game at the Woodward Center on Tuesday evening.
Westfield held Bard to just 14 points in the first half, as the Raptors connected on just six of 24 shots, and 1 of 12 from three-point range. The Owls took a 33-14 lead into the intermission.
The Owls opened the second half with a dunk from senior Shane Pasquantonio (Ashland, Mass.) and the Owls kept the Raptors at bay throughout the second half. Bard briefly cut the lead to 14, 35-21 on a Harry Johnson (plytech/Smyrna, Del.) three-pointer, but Westfield quickly extended the margin to 20 and maintained that advantage.
Westfield State 1-5 overall on the season while Bard is now 2-5.
Senior guard Jesus Sanchez (Holderness School/Springfield, Mass.) led Westfield with 12 points and grabbed six rebounds. Peter Mafo (Lynn Classical/Lynn, Mass.) added 11 points and Allister Williams (Bedford/Boston, Mass.) 10. Pasquantonio finished with seven points and a game-high nine rebounds. Senior guard Philip DiPhillipo (Mahar/Orange, Mass.) dished out six assists.
For Bard, Armando Dunn (Cardozo/Queens Village, N.Y.) led the way with 10 points on 5-7 shooting, and grabbed six rebounds. Johnson added eight points, and David Runcie (Columbia/South Orange, N.J.) finished with a team-best eight rebounds.
Westfield State will be back in action on Thursday, travelling to Williams College. Bard will host Hamilton on Saturday, December 10.
Westfield State honored its fall sport athletes who earned all-conference honors. A total of 23 student-athletes earned recognition from the Massachusetts State Athletic Conference or the Little East Conference for their play on the field this fall. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
