Owls Host Fitchburg with MASCAC Tournament Seeding On the Line
Owls look to capture a share of the MASCAC regular season title and the overall number one seed in the conference with win versus Falcons
WESTFIELD, Mass.- The Westfield State men's basketball program will be facing off against Fitchburg State at the Woodward Center this Saturday afternoon, February 19 at 2:00 p.m. for senior day, and the last home game of the regular season.
The Owls will be recognizing five current seniors: Jordan Wiggins, Meesha Ohradka, Kumar Brown, Joseph Meade, and Justin Rennis along with last year's seniors' Bahu Abdul-Wadud and Malik Pouncey.
The Owls are 19-4 overall and sit at 9-2 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. Fitchburg State owns a 6-16 record and is 4-7 in conference play.
The Owls are currently tied with Salem State atop the MASCAC standings. If Westfield wins tomorrow, the Owls will earn the number one overall seed in the MASCAC tournament, and will receive a bye into the conference semi-finals.
Westfield State secured the win against Fitchburg in their first match-up on January 26, with a final score of 73-65. Juniors' Brendon Hamilton and JT Thompson each scored 16 points in the victory.
Hamilton has been consistent the entire season as he is currently second in Division III in rebounds per game at 14.3. He is also the Owls leading point scorer, averaging 16.0 points per game, and is leading the conference in blocks per game at 2.3.
Rennis, the senior captain, continues to be efficient for the Owls putting up 13.4ppg, 5rpg and 2.5apg. The last time Westfield saw the Falcons, Rennis scored 13 points followed by eight rebounds and three assists, shooting 54% from the field.
Fitchburg has struggled this season overall, but find themselves in fifth place in the conference with a record of 4-7 after a recent win against Bridgewater State. They are led by first-year guard Frederick Siayor, who leads the Falcons in scoring at 10.6ppg.
Sophomore forward Quincy Taylor has averaged a double-double on the season, averaging 10.3ppg and grabbing 11.9rpg, while shooting an effective 56.5% on the season. Taylor grabbed 13 rebounds in their first contest with the Owls with five points and five assists.
Westfield State will enter the MASCAC postseason next week. If the Owls win, they will grab the top seed and host a MASCAC semifinal game on Thursday from the Woodward Center with the time and opponent to be determined. If the Owls lose tomorrow, and Salem State wins, Westfield will drop to the second seed and will host a MASCAC quarterfinals game on Tuesday with the time and opponent to be determined.