Westfield, MA ---Westfield State junior Lee Vazquez (Attleboro, MA) poured in a career-best 41 points and tied a school-record with nine made three-pointers to help lead the Owls to an 81-59 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC men's basketball action.
The hosts (13-8, 5-3 MASCAC) were also led by third-year Matt Devine (Pembroke, MA) who registered 15 points and 15 boards (13 defensive) as junior Matt White (Philadelphia, PA) and senior Ryan DeLosa (Leeds, NY) both combined for 17 points and nine caroms.
Vazquez made his mark on the score sheet as he would also finish with five caroms and five steals and go a remarkable 14-for-29 from the field – including nine for 16 from beyond the arc.
The Lancers (6-14, 3-5 MASCAC) were once again propelled by sophomore Robert Hunter (St. Louis, MI) who logged his 13th double-double in 20 games this season as he ended the evening with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Junior Monte Goodwin (Boston, MA/Belmont) netted a team-high 17 points, going 11-for-15 from the charity stripe, as senior Frank Stephenson (Fall River, MA) and sophomore Mike Gittens (Uncasville, CT) each contributed 15 and 10 points apiece, respectively.
With the Owls nursing the 13-11 advantage six minutes into the contest, they would open things up with a 9-0 run to lead 22-11 midway though.
The Lancers would respond and cut the lead to five on two occasions with the first coming at the 6:35 mark and the second with 3:56 remaining in the first period, but Vazquez would put matters into his own hands as he rattled off 11 consecutive points with a trio of three-pointers in a span of 53 seconds to help the Owls take the 39-26 advantage.
Worcester State, however, would make it a nine-point game at the half with a Stephenson trifecta in the last seconds of the frame (44-35).
The hosts started of the second stanza with an 11-4 run to balloon their advantage to 55-41 at the 15:01 mark.
Westfield State would continue to lead by double-digits for much of the period, but the Lancers would make one final charge to get to within seven points with 5:24 left to play, but that was as close as they would get.
In impressive fashion, the Owls would hold their opponents off the board for the remainder of the contest and go on a 15-0 run to close out the game.
The key statistic in the contest was points off of turnovers as Westfield State held a 29-6 advantage in the category (18-4 in second half) and forced 23 Lancer miscues, most of which were courtesy of 18 steals. The Owls also shot 46 percent for the game (33-for-72) and dominated the paint (42-22).
Worcester State held the slim lead in rebounding (41-39) as both squads were even in offensive boards (13-13). The Lancers generated almost one-third of their offense from the free throw line as they went 75 percent for the contest (18-for-24).
The Lancers will take on non-conference foe Wheaton at 7 PM at home on Thursday while Westfield State entertains Bridgewater State at 3 o'clock on Saturday.