#3 Westfield State Edges #6 Fitchburg State, 91-86

Torres registers a game-high 30 points in MASCAC quarterfinal setback

WESTFIELD, Mass. (February 24, 2009) - Senior Brian Torres (North Dighton, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) led all scorers with a game-high 30 points as Fitchburg State suffered a 91-86 loss to Westfield State in the MASCAC Tournament quarterfinals this evening.  

Westfield State improves to 18-8 on the season as it will face second-seeded Bridgewater State in the MASCAC Tournament semifinals on Thursday at 7 p.m. Fitchburg State concludes its season with an 8-16 record overall and a 2-10 mark in the MASCAC.

Torres led the Falcons offensive efforts on 13-of-22 shooting, including 4-of-10 from long range. Junior center Tim Graham (Arlington, Mass./Arlington Catholic) added 18 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while classmate Colin London (Worcester, Mass./Doherty) chipped in with ten points and six assists.

Juniors Asa Abbott (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) and Brandon Mauer (Pittsfield, Mass./Pittsfield) scored 22 and 20 points, respectively to lead Westfield State, while senior Dave Jaehnig (Quincy, Mass./Quincy) compiled 10 points and team highs of nine rebounds, six assists and three steals.

After suffering a 75-59 loss to Westfield State last Saturday, Fitchburg State came out firing in the playoff atmosphere as there were 19 lead changes in the contest. The Falcons shot 44.0% from the floor, including 8-of-22 from three-point range and 14-of-15 from the charity stripe.

Westfield held a slim 40-38 advantage at the end of the first half as Abbott connected for 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Graham and Torres led the Falcons first half fury, combining for 23 points and four rebounds throughout the frame.

In the second half, Fitchburg State grabbed its seventh lead of the contest with a 50-49 advantage at the 15:43. Torres connected for 19 second half points to lead the Falcons second half efforts, hitting 8-of-12 shots from the field. Westfield State answered the Falcons comeback with a 26-10 run over the next eight minutes to grab a 75-60 lead with 7:52 remaining.

Fitchburg State continued to battle, cutting the Westfield State lead to only six (86-80) with 0:33 left in regulation, but the owls made 14 free throws in the final 3:21 to hold off the pesky Falcons.

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Westfield State 91, Fitchburg State 86