Men’s Basketball Chosen to Repeat as MASCAC Champs in Preseason Poll
The Owls grabbed five of eight first-place votes as they enter the season as the preseason favorites.
WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State University men's basketball team were selected as the 2025-26 MASCAC preseason favorites to repeat as conference champions as part of the coaches' poll as voted on by the league coaches.
The Owls received five first-place votes for a total of 52 points to secure the top spot. Salem State came in with 40 points and one first place vote while Bridgewater State earned the remaining two votes for 36 points in a tie with Worcester State.
Westfield topped the 20-win mark for the third time in the last five seasons, posting a 21-7 overall record while earning the top seed in the conference tournament with a 9-3 MASCAC mark. The Owls cruised to a pair of conference tournament victories, defeating fourth-seeded Framingham State 83-67 in the conference semifinals before a triumphant conference title game in which the Owls dismantled second-seed Salem 93-63.
The Owls punched their ticket into the NCAA Tournament where their season would come to an end against nationally-ranked #5 Randolph Macon in the opening round.
Last season, the Owls offense was one of the highest scoring units in Division III, averaging 87.1 points per game which was 12th in the nation. The Owls set four single-game records last year including a 133-point barrage against Vermont State Lyndon which topped the previous longstanding 54-year record.
One of the catalysts to their high-flying offense was rookie forward Kenneth Rogers, Jr. (Springfield, Mass.). Now entering his second season with the Owls, Rogers, Jr. was named the 2024-25 D3hoops.com Regional Rookie of the Year after recording 18.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Along with his national accolades, Rogers, Jr. was also tabbed the MASCAC's Co-Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
The Owls also bring back a pair of guards in Xavier Lewis (Long Island, N.Y.) and A.Z. Allah (Springfield, Mass.). Lewis was the Owls third leading scorer a year ago, averaging nine points per game while dishing out nearly four assists per game. Allah figures to step into an increased usage role after serving in a sixth-ran role in his freshman year. He averaged 7.6 points per game on 45 percent shooting with that number increasing to 8.3 points in conference games. He shot 40 percent from deep against league foes as well.
Westfield State the 2025-26 regular season with the Rick Martin/Hampton Inn Classic hosted by the Owls on Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15 from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass.