Fifth Seeded Falcons Upended By Top Seeded Owls In MASCAC Semifinals

Westfield, Mass. – The fifth seeded Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team dropped an 80 58 decision to the top seeded Owls of Westfield State University semifinal round action of the 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic (MASCAC) Post-Season Tournament this evening from the Woodward Center.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 58, Westfield State 80
Records: Fitchburg State (7-18, 4-8 MASCAC), Westfield State (21-4, 10-2 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Westfield State grabbed an early 8-0 advantage, capped by a Justin Rennis (Springfield, Mass.) dunk before Fitchburg State answered with a 7-0 stretch with junior Darian Norwood (San Diego, Calif.) drained a three ball to make the score 8-7.

The Owls upped their lead to 17-12 as junior JT Thompson (Columbia, S.C.) hit a jumper, but the Falcons would take an 18-17 edge when sophomore Nathaniel Semedo (Bridgewater, Mass.) netted a layup.

The hosts regained the advantage (23-20) on a three pointer from sophomore Kuany Teng (Manchester, N.H.) before the Green and Gold cut the deficit to 27-25 as Semedo hit a layup and junior Dayne Allen (Revere, Mass.) added a free-throw. Westfield State took a 31-25 margin into the break though with Teng notching a layup as time expired.

Following the intermission, Westfield State extended the lead (38-28) on a Rennis jumper before Fitchburg State countered with a jumper from sophomore Quincy Taylor (Boston, Mass.) to cut the lead to 38-30.

The Owls pushed its margin to 47-30 on a three-pointer from Thompson, but the Falcons countered with a 6-2 run to reduce the lead to 50-41 as junior Tajahn Joyner (Hadley, Mass.) registered a layup.

The Falcons trimmed the lead to 57-48 when junior Trevian Hinson (Tampa, Fla.) notched a layup and freshman Frederick Siayor (Worcester, Mass.) knocked down a three ball, but the Owls secured the victory as Thomson collected a bucket, resulting in the 80-58 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were paced by Siayor with a team-leading 13 points, three rebounds, one assist and two steals and one block
• Semedo added eight points, two caroms, three assists, one steal and one block
• For the Owls, Teng finished with a game-best 30 points, two boards, two assists and two steals
• Rennis chipped in with ten points, seven rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block
• 112th meeting between two schools with Falcons 29-90 all-time vs the Owls
• Fitchburg State shot 21-for-67 (31.3%) from the field and (5-for-16) 31.3% from three point land
• Westfield State finished 31-of-78 (39.7%) overall and (6-for-15) 40.0% from beyond the arc
• Owls finished with a 56-41 advantage on the glass

Up Next

Falcons conclude their 2021-22 campaign this evening.