Men's Basketball Topped By Owls

Fitchburg, MA – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team dropped a 97-70 decision to the Owls of Westfield State this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 70, Westfield State 97

Fitchburg State (3-19, 1-8 MASCAC) I Westfield State (16-7, 7-3 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st half

Westfield State took an 8-4 edge on a layup from sophomore Dom Strother (Edinburg, VA) before Fitchburg State answered with a three ball by junior Frederick Siayor (Worcester, MA) and buckets by freshman Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) and senior Javon Taylor (Cambridge, MA) to take a 13-11 advantage.

The Owls answered back to grab a 19-15 margin as junior Angel Price-Espada (Cambridge, MA) drained a three ball and sophomore Juju Omot (Springfield, MA) added a jumper. The visitors pushed the lead to 23-15 when Omut connected on a layup, but the Falcons responded when newcomer Alex Moemeka (West Hartford, CT) netted a three-point play to make the score 28-19.

The Green and Gold trimmed the deficit to 36-22 as Franks converted an and one before Westfield State answered back with a three-pointer by junior Timmy Jacobus (Houston, TX) for the 39-22 edge. Fitchburg State trimmed the lead to 44-24 with freshman Braeden White (Spencer, MA) registering a jump, but the Owls took a 54-28 edge into the break on a dunk from senior Brendon Hamilton (Worcester, MA).

2nd Half

Following the intermission, Westfield State upped the lead to 61-28 on a Strother dunk before Fitchburg State responded with a Franks layup (61-30). The Falcons cut into the deficit as freshman Jackson Owens (Buford, GA) netted a pair of layup to make the score 64-36, but the Owls upped the advantage to 67-36 as Prince-Espada knocked down a three-ball.

The Green and Gold trimmed the lead to 82- 49 when newcomers Colin Quinn (South Hadley, MA) and Tyrone Countrymon (Boston, MA) hit buckets before the Owls answered back on a Xavier Lewis (Wheatley Heights, NY) layup (88-51). The Falcons reduced the lead to 97-70 on a three-balls by freshmen Anthony Joseph (Palm Bay, FL) and Countrymon as well as a pair of buckets from classmate Keajuan Beco (Louisville, KY), but that as close as the hosts would get as the Owls secured the 97-70 victory.

Inside the Numbers                                                                                                 

• Falcons were led by Franks with a team-leading 11 points, four caroms and two blocks
• Moemeka added 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block for the Green and Gold
• For the Owls, Omot finished with a game-best 22 points, five boards and three assists
• Hamilton chipped in with 13 points, 13 rebounds, one assist and three blocks
• 123rd meeting between Fitchburg State and Westfield State on the hardwood with the Falcons 29-54 all-time when taking on the Owls
• Fitchburg State shot 26-for-68 (38.2%) from the field and (3-of-15) 20.0% from three-point range
• Westfield State finished 39-of-82 (47.6%) overall and (12-for-34) 35.3% for beyond the arc
• Owls held a narrow 48-43 advantage on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday when they travel to Bridgewater State to take on the Bears for a conference tilt, starting at 2:00PM.

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