Sports

Westfield State holds off Bridgewater

Jesus Sanchez lofts a layup over a Bridgewater defender. (Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports))

Jesus Sanchez lofts a layup over a Bridgewater defender. (Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports))

WESTFIELD – Junior guards Jesus Sanchez (Springfield, Mass.) and Jose Allen (Amherst, Mass.) scored 16 points each, leading the Westfield State men’s basketball team past Bridgewater State, 78-70, in MASCAC play Saturday afternoon at the Woodward Center.
After being saddled with early foul trouble, Sanchez scored 13 of his 16 points after the break, dominating Bridgewater’s smaller guard in the post and in the paint to lead the Owls to the victory in a rematch of last year’s MASCAC championship game.
Westfield led by double digits much of the second half and pushed its lead to 12 points on layup by senior center Brian Foley (Worcester, Mass.) with just over two minutes remaining, but Bridgewater made a late charge by forcing turnovers with its full court pressure.
Foley, making a rare start for Westfield, made some great post passes and finished with 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Bears junior forward Greg Romanko (Mansfield, Mass.) canned a three-pointer to cut the Owls lead to four with 30 seconds left. After Allen sunk two free throws on the other end, however, Romanko had another good look at a triple with 18 seconds left, but the ball rattled around the rim and out, allowing Westfield to escape with the win.
With Sanchez on the bench in the first half, Westfield initially struggled to find easy scoring, but 12 first-half Bridgewater turnovers led to easy opportunities for the Owls on the other end.
Two steals by sophomore forward Evan Hopson (North Providence, RI) led to transition jumpers for Allen, which sparked the Owls offense and pushed the lead to 10 before Romanko swished a rainbow three at the buzzer to send Bridgewater into the break trailing 32-25.
Bridgewater leading scorer Fawaz Mass (Taunton, Mass.) opened the second half on fire, scoring seven quick points for the Bears, before Hopson switched onto him defensively and slowed him down for the remainder of the game. Mass finished with 22 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Bears.
Romanko, Rocky DeAndrade (Mansfield, Mass.), and Patrick McGuiness (New City, NY) each had 10 points for Bridgewater.
The Bears shot 41 percent from the field and nailed seven three-pointers, but committed 18 turnovers on the evening.
Westfield outscored Bridgewater, 38-24, in the paint, relying on the post play of Sanchez, Foley, and junior Shane Pasquantonio (Ashland, Mass.) Pasquantonio chipped in 9 points and 3 rebounds, while freshman Peter Mafo (Lynn, Mass.) added 10 points.
With the win, Westfield improves to 8-9, 3-2 in the MASCAC, while Bridgewater drops to 6-11, 2-3 in the MASCAC.
The Owls host Worcester State on Wednesday, January 27 at 7:30 p.m. in their next MASCAC matchup.Bridgewater State looks to rebound against MCLA, as they host the Trailblazers on Wednesday, January 27 at 7:30 p.m.

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