Men's Hoops Opens MASCAC Play with 77-74 Win over the Owls

Courtesy of the Westfield State College Sports Information Office

Box Score

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Junior guard Corey Connor (Providence) nailed a 3-point basket from the right wing with 2.9 seconds remaining to lift Bridgewater State to a 77-74 comeback victory over Westfield State in the Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference (MASCAC) men's basketball opener on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Westfield led by seven points, 66-59, with 4:00 remaining on a lay-in following his own missed shot by 6-6 freshman center Matt Devine (Pembroke). But the Bears, who only tallied 17 points in the opening 16 minutes of the second half, outscored Westfield, 18-8, down the stretch for the big MASCAC road victory.

Junior standout guard Judah Jackson (Everett), who played with four fouls most of the second half, scored nine clutch points and the Bears made 6 of 7 free throws in the final four minutes.

Bridgewater took its first late-game lead, 72-70, on a pair of free throws by Connor with 1:26 remaining.

Westfield freshman forward Charlie Rucker (Lynn) scored on a tip-in to tie the score at the 1:00-minute mark then Bridgewater regained the lead with 42 seconds left on a pair of free throws by Nicholas Motta (Fairhaven).

The Owls tied the score at 74-all with 18 seconds left on a high arcing 10-foot jumper from the left wing by freshman guard Lee Vazquez (Attleboro). Connor then delivered his clutch 3-pointer from the far right wing. Westfield had no timeouts remaining and could not get off a good shot in the final 2.9 seconds.

Bridgewater did lead for most of the game. The Bears' biggest lead was 11 points in the first half and they led 42-37 at the break. But Westfield rallied to take the lead with a strong defensive effort that contained Bridgewater for the first 16 minutes of the second half.

Devine, who sat out most of the first half with two fouls, was dominating inside with four blocked shots. He posted a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) in 24 minutes of action.

Sharing game-high scoring honors were Jackson and Motta with 21 points apiece. Motta had a team-high eight rebounds and Connor contributed 13 points.

Rucker posted team highs of 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Owls. Joe Dicruttalo (Franklin) and Asa Abbott (New Paltz, NY) had 11 and 10 points, respectively. Westfield starting senior guard Derek Leab was sidelined with a hand injury he sustained Thursday in Westfield's win over WNEC.