Worcester, MA --- Behind a career-best 19 point performance by sophomore Mike Gittens (Uncasville, CT) Worcester State defeated Westfield State, 61-58, in a thrilling MASCAC men's basketball contest this evening at the Lancer Gymnasium.
With the win the Lancers run their win streak to three (5-7, 2-0 MASCAC) while the Owls slip to 9-6 (1-1 MASCAC) with the setback.
Second-year Robert Hunter (St. Louis, MI) came off the bench to score 12 points and swipe four while senior Frank Stephenson (Fall River, MA) chipped in with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and a trio of steals as he played the entire game. Gittens also grabbed six boards as freshman Charles Gunter (Boston, MA/New Mission) shared contest high honors with seven caroms.
Westfield State was propelled by junior Lee Vazquez (Attleboro, MA/Woonsocket) who boosted totals of 18 points and four assists while he finished his night a perfect four-for-four from the charity stripe. Junior Matt Devine (Pembroke, MA) finished with 11 points, seven caroms and four blocks. Third-year Travis Nally (Melrose, MA) added eight points and dished out two helpers.
Devine entered the contest leading the NCAA Division III in total blocks (73) and average (5.2) while Vazquez was held to five points below his average (23.1) as he is 11th nationally.
The Lancers staked claim to the early 10-4 advantage 14:13 into the contest and led 17-12 at the 7:13 mark. The Owls would then outscore their hosts 11-4 as they took their first lead of the game on a conventional three-point play by Vazquez with 3:23 left in the first half.
Junior Kyle Ferreira (Westport, MA/Diman Vocational) helped the Blue and Gold get the lead back with a pair of free throws as WSU would go on an 8-4 run to close out the frame.
Westfield State opened the second half with a 5-0 spurt as senior Ryan DeLosa (Leeds, NY) and junior Ryan White (Philadelphia, PA) provided the offense and helped the visitors keep the hosts off the board four minutes into the period.
After Stephenson broke the ice with a lay-up, Vazquez answered with a trey at the 15:14 mark. It was at that point that Worcester State would go on an 11-4 surge to take over a 44-37 advantage with 9:35 remaining.
As the Lancers led 46-39 two minutes later, the Owls would answer with an 11-4 skein of their own to knot the score 50-50 with 5:31 left.
Theatrics would ensue in the final five minutes of regulation as the lead changed hands six times and the score was equalized on five occasions.
Entering the final sixty second stretch, Vazquez gave his team the lead for the final time with jumper at the top of the key. The Lancers then knotted the score at 58-58 on the back-end of a bonus opportunity by Hunter.
Following a Westfield State timeout, Devine turned the ball over at midcourt right into the hands of Hunter who helped get ball into the backcourt to Gunter who was fouled in the act of shooting. Gunter would then sink both of his attempts at the line to give the Lancers the 60-58 lead for good with 12 ticks remaining.
The Owls would try to push the ball up the floor, but Vazquez coughed up the ball right to Hunter who made the final free throw shot of the contest for the final score.
For the game Westfield State dominated the paint (28-12) while Worcester State led 23-18 from the bench. The Lancers led in rebounding (37-29) and in offensive caroms (12-6).
Westfield State built on their solid shooting in the second half to finish with a 43 percent line (20-for-47) from the field, but only canned three of their 14 attempts from downtown. The Blue and Gold were held to 32 percent (17-for-53) from the floor for the contest as nearly half their offense came from the free throw line (21-for-29 – 73 percent).
The Owls struggled from the charity stripe finishing with a 15-for-24 line for the game (63 percent).
Both teams will travel to MASCAC opponents on Saturday. Worcester State travels to MCLA for a 5 PM matchup while Westfield State embarks on a trip to Bridgewater State for a 3 o'clock tip-off.