Grant Cooper attempts to block a shot by Bridgewater’s Anthony Fortes. (Photo courtesy of Bridgewater State)
BRIDGEWATER – Senior guard Lee Vazquez (Attleboro, Mass.) scored a game-high 27 points to lead Westfield State University men’s basketball team to an 82-71 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 12, at the Tinsley Center.
The Owls improve to 12-3 on the season and 2-1 in the MASCAC, while the host Bears fall to 6-8 overall and 1-2 in conference play with their third straight setback.
Vazquez, who knocked down 5 of 11 three-pointers, also finished with four steals and three rebounds. Senior forward Ryan White (Philadelphia, Pa.) added 18 points and nine boards, while senior center Matt Devine (Pembroke, Mass.) notched 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, five blocked shots and a pair of steals.
Bridgewater was led by sophomore forward Michael Lofton (Mansfield, Mass.) who scored 19 points on 9 of 10 shooting while also adding eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Senior guard Shawn Yard (Brockton, Mass.) filled the stat sheet with 14 points, five boards, five assist and two steals.
In a game that featured four ties and 14 lead changes, the visiting Owls jumped out to a nine-point advantage (15-6) early in the contest before a 12-4 BSU run pulled the Bears to within one (19-18) with 13:21 left in the first half. Neither team would lead by more than six points until there were under five minutes left to play in the game.
Trailing 39-38 at the break, Bridgewater used a quick 7-2 spurt to start the second half as the Bears opened up a 45-41 lead with 18:05 remaining. The next six minutes saw two ties and three lead changes. Westfield would go ahead for good on a Grant Cooper (Northampton, Mass.) layup with 12:27 left to play. A 10-3 Owl run later in the period ballooned the visitors’ advantage to 10 points, 77-67, as the clock ticked under two minutes.
A 3-pointer by BSU senior guard Brendan McDonald (Dorchester, Mass.) cut the deficit to seven with 1:43 remaining. Vazquez made 1 of 2 free throws at the other end of the floor, but a key turnover by the Bears on the ensuing possession all but put the game out of reach as the clock ticked under a minute.
Both teams shot over 50% for the game. The Owls connected on 54.8% (34-for-62) of their field goal attempts including 8-for-17 (47.1%) from three-point range. The Bears finished with a .538 (28-for-52) shooting percentage, 6-for-15 (40%) from behind the arc.
Westfield held a 31-23 rebounding advantage including a 9-4 edge on the offensive glass.
In upcoming action, the Bears host MASCAC rival Worcester State University next Thursday night at 7:30, while the Owls entertain conference foe MCLA on Tuesday evening also at 7:30.
