Omot's Big Night Powers Owls Through Cobleskill, 87-80

WESTFIELD, Mass.  -  Juju Omot led five Westfield State players in double figures with 24 points and 17 rebounds, as the Owls posted an 87-80 win in a non-conference men's basketball game at SUNY-Cobleskill on Thursday night.

Westfield State is now 6-4 overall while Cobleskill dips to 7-6.

The Owls led by as many as 13 points midway through the opening half, but the pesky Tigers managed to keep the game in check and limit the Westfield lead to 36-32 at the half.

In the second half, Cobleskill got all the way back to grab a 41-38 lead on a three pointer from Jeremy Rosario just 2:05 into the half.  The two teams battled back and forth throughout the second half. The game was tied at 72-all with 3:07 to play.

Westfield spurted away with a 8-1 run generated by pressure defense, with Omot getting a dunk off of a steal on the press to give Westfield an 80-73 margin with 1:45 left in the game.

Westfield had a balanced scoring attack. Brendon Hamilton scored 11 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked seven shots, Lid Moreland added 14 points, Andre Hairston 12, and Jerome Stephens 11.

Westfield outrebounded the Fighting Tigers 60-52 on the evening.

Cobleskill was led by 23 points from Rosario and 17 points and six assists from Kobe Long.  Markel Jenkins delivered 16 points and 10 rebunds.

The Owls will play their final game before the semester break with a non-conference matchup against UMass-Boston on Saturday at the Woodward Center with a 1:00 p.m. tip off.