Westfield, MA --- Westfield State senior Lee Vazquez (Woonsocket, RI) scored a game-high 22 points and classmate Matt Devine (Pembroke, MA) had 21 points and game highs of 14 rebounds and five blocks as Westfield State held on for a 70-66 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC men's basketball action at The Woodard Center.
The Lancers (1-1, 7-5 MASCAC) rallied from an early 18-point (22-4) deficit and from an 15-point, 53-38, deficit with 13:45 remaining to take their only lead of the game, 61-60, on a three-point basket by senior Kyle Ferreira (Westport, MA) with 5:55 remaining that capped a 23-7 scoring run.
But the Owls (10-3, 1-1 MASCAC) withstood the big comeback led by Vazquez and Devine in the final minutes. Vazquez snapped a 64-64 tie with a jumper from the right wing with 49 seconds remaining to give Westfield State the lead for good.
On Worcester State's ensuing possession, Devine came up with a huge block in the lane, swatting the ball to the deep right corner where it was recovered by Vazquez.
Owls sophomore Jordan Santiago (Westfield, MA) was fouled with 26 seconds remaining and made two free throws for a 68-64 lead.
Junior Dane Jobst (Athol, MA) put back an offensive rebound to make it 68-66 with eight seconds remaining. Devine then drained two free throws with seven seconds remaining to seal the victory.
The Owls led 26-8 with 11:14 remaining in the first half when the Lancers made their first comeback.
The Blue and Gold whittled the margin to six, 30-24, on a traditional three-point play by Jobst with 3:39 remaining, but Westfield took a 39-29 halftime lead on a buzzer beater from beyond the arc by Vazquez.
The stat lines were fairly even with both teams making 25 field goals and five three-point baskets. But the Owls were 15 for 25 from the foul line while Worcester State was 11 for 18.
Westfield State out-rebounded the Lancers, 45-40, and the Owls racked up 11 blocked shots. Santiago finished with 10 points, five assists and two steals while Vazquez had five assists and three steals.
Freshman Alex Lopez (Springfield, MA/Commerce) led the Lancers with 17 points and junior Robert Hunter (St. Louis, MI) had 12 points and game highs of nine rebounds and five steals. Jobst, the MASCAC's leading scorer and second leading rebounder, finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Also scoring in double figures was senior Monte Goodwin (Boston, MA/Belmont) with 14 points.