Owls Win Season Opener

WESTFIELD MA – It was nothing but Owls as Westfield State University took down the William Paterson University Pioneers, 86-66 in the men's basketball season opener in the Rick Martin - Hampton Inn Classic at the Woodward Center. 

Strong offensive performances from Westfield's Juju Omot (Springfield, Mass./Central) and Lid Moreland (Bridgeport, CT),  who both tallied 13 points for the Owls was crucial in the win, but the Owls' defense helped seal the deal. 

The Owls tied the school record in blocked shots with 14. Junior Eric Johnson (Houston, Tex.)  and senior Jerome Stephens (Dorchester, MA/Kennedy Health Acad.) both tallied four blocks.

Angel Price-Espada (Cambridge, MA/Pope John XXIII) led the Owls in steals with five, and added 12 points and seven rebounds in his debut as an Owl after transferring from Bunker Hill Community College, as the Owls forced the Pioneers to turn the ball over 23 times. 

With nine minutes remaining in the first, a jump shot from Omot gave the Owls a five-point lead that they continued to build on, entering halftime up 44-32.

Moreland finished with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists in a strong all-around performance.  Brendon Hamiliton (Worcester, Mass./Tech) added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

For the Pioneers, Tyreek Montgomery (Neptune, NJ) led with 16 points and three steals. David Martinez (Maywood, NJ) added 12 points and six rebounds. Caesar Silvestro (Ridgewood, Nj) tallied seven rebounds and three assists. 

The win now puts the Owls at 1-0 on the season. The loss now puts the Pioneers at 1-1 on the season. 

At halftime, the Owls honored Russell Thompson class of '87, with his induction into the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. Thompson was an All American for the Owls and holds the school record in career rebounds (1,169). 

The Pioneers next game will be tomorrow November 10 at 2 p.m. as they take on Western Connecticut State University on the second day of the Rick Martin/Hampton Inn Classic. 

The Owls next game will be tomorrow November 10 at noon as they take on Ramapo College on the second day of the Rick Martin/Hampton Inn Classic. 

 - written by Jordan Aguiar sports information intern

 RAMAPO 87, WESTERN CONNECTICUT 74

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Ramapo College's Anthony Corbo (Pompton Plains, N.J.) led all scorers with 19 points to lead the Roadrunners to an 87-74 victory over Western Connecticut State University in day one of the Rick Martin Classic from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass. on Friday night.

Corbo posted a double-double on the evening, adding 12 rebounds and four assists to his 19-point night. Justin Bladen (Sicklerville, N.J.) followed with 17 points and six assists for the Roadrunners. Jordan Myers (Piscataway, N.J.) poured in 12 points and four rebounds with Elijah Barlow (Plainfield, N.J.) and Tyrell Murchison (South Brunswick, N.J.) reaching double figures off the bench.

Cameron Gallon (York, Pa.) posted a team-high 18 points off the bench for Western Connecticut with Jaheim Young (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Alfonso Stokes (Bloomfield, Conn.) each scoring 17 points. Jaysean Morgan (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) chipped in 12 points and four steals off the bench.

Both teams will compete tomorrow in day two of the Rick Martin/Hampton Inn Classic beginning with Ramapo College against Westfield State at noon followed by Western Connecticut and William Paterson at 2:00 P.M.