WORCESTER, Mass. – Six Worcester State University Lancers scored in double digits to help the Lancers to a 91-79 win over the Westfield State Owls, concluding their regular season with a 16-9 overall record, and an 8-4 winning MASCAC record - good for a fourth place seed in the post-season tournament.
Worcester State's Ryan DiBernardo (Springfield, Mass.) led the charge, as he scored a game-high 20 points. Jamal Mustapha (Worcester, Mass.) gave the Lancers 16 points off the bench, while Bilal Shakir (Worcester, Mass.) registered 15 points. Marquez McKreith-Collins (Springfield, Mass.) netted 12 points, while junior center, Paul Brooks (Arlington, Mass.) recorded a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds with the addition of four blocks on the afternoon. Shakir, McKreith-Collins, and Alex Santos (Lawrence, Mass.) each collected five assists apiece.
Westfield State had five players score in double digits. Tchuijo Nkamebo (Amherst, Mass.) registered a team-high 18 points off the bench, going 8-for-13 from the field. Jesus Sanchez (Springfield, Mass.) netted 15 points, while Shane Pasquantonio (Ashland, Mass.) marked a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jose Allen (Amherst, Mass.) chipped in 12 points and Evan Hopson (Providence, RI) added 10.
Worcester and Westfield had a great first half battle. Westfield stayed with the Lancers for the whole first half never letting the blue and gold grow their lead. As hard as Westfield fought, Worcester never lost control maintaining a first half advantage, and came out with a 48-44 lead at the intermission.
The Lancers kept their short distance with the Owls, until 13:26 remaining in the game when Sanchez gave Westfield some momentum with an and-one to tie the score at 62-62. The teams went back-and-forth until Worcester State went on an 8-0 run on a jumper from Mustapha and back-to-back three's from Shakir shortly after. Westfield pulled in close once again, only for the Lancers to finish the last four minutes of play with a 9-3 run to conclude the game with a score of 91-79.
The Lancers had the shooting advantage, going 50.8 percent from the field, while the Owls only shot 40.3 percent. Worcester State made 12 three-pointers throughout the entirety of the game, as Shakir and DiBernardo drained four apiece and McKreith-Collins and senior Manny Cabral (Roslindale, Mass.) added in one each.
Worcester State returns to play on Tuesday (Feb. 23) when they will host Westfield State, once again, for a MASCAC quarterfinal game. The game is set for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff on the campus of Assumption College.