Westfield, MA --- Junior Brendan Rios (Easthampton, MA) poured in 18 points and senior Dane Jobst (Athol, MA) put up a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds to help Worcester State for a 69-66 comeback victory over Westfield State in MASCAC men's basketball action this evening at the Woodard Center.
The Lancers, who overcame a 12-point deficit with 12 minutes remaining, earn their first win in conference play (4-12, 1-3 MASCAC). The Owls even out to 8-8 overall and slip to 1-3 in league action.
The Blue and Gold trailed by double digits in both halves, but Jobst and Rios led the charge to help the visitors come from behind and capture the road win.
The triumph at the Woodard Center snapped an eight-game drought that dated back to when the Lancers upset the top-seeded Owls, 70-53 in the semifinals of the MASCAC Tournament during the 2005-06 campaign.
Jobst and Rios made consecutive three-point baskets to give Worcester State its first lead since early in the first half – a 57-56 advantage with 6:07 remaining.
Westfield State junior Grant Cooper (Northampton), who scored a game-high 19 points, converted a layup to tie the score at 58-58 with 4:55 remaining, but the Lancers took the lead for good, 60-58, on a Jobst put back with 4:38 remaining.
Worcester State was up by five points in the closing minutes, including a 67-62 lead with 1:20 remaining. The Owls, however, had two opportunities to tie the score in the final minute.
With the score 67-64, Westfield State freshman Jesus Sanchez (Springfield, MA/Holderness) launched a three-point attempt from the top of the key with 27 seconds remaining, but Rios made an excellent defensive play, timing his jump perfectly to block the shot.
After a Lancer free throw, the Owls cut the deficit to two (68-66) on a junior Dan Tessier (Uxbridge, MA) short jumper in the paint with seven seconds remaining.
Worcester State freshman Noris Cuevas-Nova (Amherst, MA) connected on the front end of a bonus try to set the hosts up with one last shot to force overtime, but Tessier missed a wide open three-pointer at the buzzer.
Trailing 11-10 midway through the first half, Westfield State embarked on a 13-2 run to take a 23-13 advantage, but Worcester State pulled to within two at halftime (30-28).
The Owls were ahead 40-34 seven minutes into the second half before scoring seven straight points for the 48-36 margin a little less than 60 seconds later.
Nursing the 50-39 edge near the midway point, the Rios and Cuevas-Nova keyed the scoring spurt with three-pointers in a 7-0 surge to trail by four with 9:40 remaining in regulation.
Cuevas-Nova also played well with 16 points and seven rebounds. The Lancers shot 45 percent from the field, including 57 percent during their second-half comeback.
Worcester was 8 for 14 from beyond the arc while Westfield State hit just six of their 21 attempts from three point land.
Both teams struggled from the foul line. Worcester only shot 44 percent (15-for-34) from the charity stripe as Westfield State shot 54 percent (18-33).
Cooper also had team highs of eight rebounds and four assists along with his game-high 19 points. Junior Robby Jones (Chicopee, MA) tallied 18 points and registered a game-high five steals as he finished five for eight from downtown. Sanchez chipped in with 12 points.
Major Portions of Release Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information
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