Carl Stewart eludes a defender on a drive to the basket. (Photo by Mickey Curtis)
WESTFIELD – Sophomore forward Bobby Bracket had 20 points and 13 rebounds to rally The College of New Jersey to a 71-66 victory over Westfield State University in non-conference men’s basketball on Saturday, Dec. 14.
TCNJ overcame a 38-30 deficit early in the second half to finish the fall semester with a 3-6 record. Westfield, which only shot 24 percent in the second half, is 6-4 at the semester break.
The Owls took their first lead, 10-7, on a 3-point basket by junior point guard Robby Jones, who scored 10 of his 13 points in the first half to stake Westfield to a 36-30 halftime lead. The Owls led by nine points twice in the first half but couldn’t push the lead into double digits.
Also playing well for Westfield was junior forward Grant Cooper, who scored nine of his 20 points in the first half. The 6-3 Northampton native grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds.
Brian Foley drives the baseline for a reverse layup. (Photo by Mickey Curtis)
The Owls led by four, 45-41, when TCNJ began to take control. The Lions tied the score at 47-all on a Bracket layup, then took their first lead, 51-49, since the 17:37 mark of the first half on a Brackett lay-in following an offensive rebound with 9:30 remaining.
TCNJ scored 10 straight points, capped by Alex Fox’s fourth 3-point basket, to take a 57-49 lead with 7:17 remaining. The Lions led by 11 points, 67-56, with 1:19 when the Owls mounted a late comeback following a seven-minute stretch without making a field goal.
Westfield scored six quick points to slice the deficit to five, 67-62, with 47 seconds remaining. After a Fox free throw, Dan Johnson drained a 3-point basket for a 68-65 score with 28 ticks left. But TCNJ made enough free throws in the closing seconds to seal the victory.
Westfield only shot 33 percent from the field, 18 percent from 3-point range (4 for 22) and 55 percent from the foul line (16 for 29). Westfield senior center Carl Stewart nearly posted a double-double with 14 points and eight rebounds.
The Lions, meanwhile, shot 46 percent from the floor, including 6 for 16 from beyond the arc. Also scoring in double figures was freshman guard Eric Klacik with 10 points.
