Lee Vazquez poured in 30 points, including 4 three-point baskets and a 10-for-10 effort from the foul line, to lead the Owls in the championship game. The 5-6 senior guard now has 1,036 career points.
CAMDEN, N.J. – Westfield State University senior guard senior guard Lee Vazquez (Attleboro, MA/Woonsocket, RI) dished off to senior center Matt Devine (Pembroke, MA/Pembroke) for the go-ahead layup in overtime and then tacked on a three-pointer moments later to lift the Owls to an 84-80 victory over host Rutgers University-Camden in the inaugural Battle by the Bridge Tournament here Saturday afternoon.
In the consolation game, Penn State-Brandywine defeated Penn State-Berks, 83-70.
Vazquez, who poured in 30 points, joined senior forward Ryan White (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Learning Center) on the all-tournament team for the Owls, while the Scarlet Raptors were represented by sophomore forward Teon Russell (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson). Penn-State Brandywine junior guard Rasheed Wilkins (Philadelphia, PA/New Media Tech) and Penn State-Berks freshman guard Darren Major (Smithfield, VA/Smithfield) rounded out the all-tourney team.
Westfield State 84, Rutgers-Camden 80 (OT)
The two teams battled to a 69-69 draw in regulation before the Owls (2-0) outlasted the Raptors (1-1) in an overtime period that featured three ties before Westfield State took the lead for good. Vasquez fed Devine with 1:29 remaining to give the Owls a 77-75 lead and added a three-pointer after a Raptor turnover moments later.
Vazquez, who notched his 1,000th career point in the Owls’ semifinal win over Penn State-Brandywine Friday night, poured in 30 points against the Scarlet Raptors, hiking his career total to 1,036.
Devine, meanwhile, inched closer to his 1,000th career point, hiking his total to 966. Both Devine and White scored 12 points apiece and sophomore forward Grant Cooper (Northampton, MA/Northampton) added 10 for the Owls. White completed a double-double with 13 rebounds and had a game-high three blocked shots.
Russell completed his big weekend with career-high totals of 24 points and 15 rebounds, one day after notching his previous highs of 15 points and 12 boards in another double-double against Penn State-Berks.
Rutgers-Camden also received 16 points from senior guard Yusuf Leary (Portland, OR/Lincoln), 13 from junior forward Robert Anders (Vero Beach, FL/Vero Beach) and 12 from junior guard Brandyn Wims (Philadelphia, PA/Cardinal Dougherty).
In a fast-paced first half, the Owls took a 37-35 lead into the locker room behind 10 points from Vazquez and eight from Cooper. Russell had 12 points and eight rebounds in the opening half for the Scarlet Raptors.
Westfield State opened up a 67-59 lead with 5:31 remaining in regulation before Rutgers-Camden fought back, eventually tying the game at 69-69 on a jumper by Russell with 37 seconds left. Both teams missed a layup in the last few seconds to send the game into overtime.
Westfield State shot 29-for-63 (46.0 percent) from the floor and 20-for-27 (74.1) from the line, while Rutgers-Camden went 27-for-74 (36.5) from the floor and 18-for-22 (81.8) from the line.
The Owls out-rebounded the Scarlet Raptors, 50-40.
Penn State-Brandywine 83, Penn State-Berks 70
In the consolation game, Penn State-Brandywine received 25 points apiece from by Wilkins and junior forward Dan Robinson (Glen Mills, PA/Ridley) on the way to its first victory of the season.
Brandywine (1-1) built a 44-39 halftime lead before Berks scored the first six points of the second half to grab a 45-44 edge. After a few lead changes, Brandywine took the lead for good, 57-56, on a layup by Wilkins.
Wilkins, who scored 33 points Friday night as his team lost to Westfield State, shot 10-for-17 from the floor and added a game-high five assists for Brandywine. Robinson, meanwhile, shot 11-for-21 and had a game-high nine rebounds to help Brandywine hold a commanding 45-25 advantage off the boards.
Senior forward Connor Hough (Telford, PA/Souderton) had 18 points to lead four Berks (0-2) players in double figures. Freshman guard Dameon Nixon (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) and sophomore guard Michael Porter (Howell, NJ/Howell) both scored 12, while senior guard Dontez Reid (Gettysburg, PA/Gettysburg) added 10.
Brandywine shot 32-for-65 from the floor (49.2 percent) and 13-for-23 (56.5) from the foul line, while Berks was 27-for-55 (49.1) from the floor and 13-for-19 (68.4) from the line.
