Owls Defeat Lancers, 89-65

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State cruised to an 89-65 win over Worcester State at the Woodward Center on Saturday, Jan. 15.

The Owls improve to 12-3 on the season, 2-1 in the MASCAC, while the Lancers fall to 5-9 overall and 0-1 in conference.

Brendon Hamilton (Worcester, Mass./ Worcester Technical) had a monster day for Westfield with 22 points and 21 rebounds. He added five blocked shots, three steals and two assists.

The Owls took the lead for good four minutes into the contest on a Jeremy Remigio (Santo Domingo, DR/ Central High School) transition layup. From there Westfield added on, holding a 42-29 advantage at half.

The Lancers came out of the break hot, scoring nine points in the first minute and a half. Two free throws for Tyler Spencer (Pembroke, Mass./ Pembroke) followed by a pair of Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass./ Bridgewater-Raynham) layups and a Nathan Bangandozou (Worcester, Mass./ St. John's Shrewsbury) three- pointer trimmed the lead to five (43-38) and forced an Owl timeout.

The Owls regrouped and went on a 19 point run over the next six minutes to extend the lead (62-38) and regain control.

Westfield State had three players join Hamilton with double- digit points, JT Thompson (Columbia S.C./ Dutch Fork) finished with 14, Kuany Teng (Manchester, N.H./ Bradford Christian Academy) and Meesha Ohradka (Feeding Hills, Mass./ Agawam) each had 13.

Worcester was paced by Bangandozou's 14 points, Spencer added 11 and Sam Dion (Barre, Mass./ Wachusett) finished with 10. Rubenskas grabbed 10 boards and blocked five shots in the setback.

The Owls held a 20-5 advantage in second chance points and a 30-9 edge in points off turnovers.

Westfield State will host the make- up of a postponed game with MCLA on Monday, Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Worcester State will take on Fitchburg State in a home contest on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.