Fitchburg State Falls At Westfield State, 81-67

Falcons fall in final regular season contest despite Valliere's game-high 18 points

WESTFIELD, Mass. (February 16, 2013) – A balanced offensive attack and a relentless defense powered the Westfield State University men's basketball team to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular season championship with an 81-67 victory over Fitchburg State University this afternoon.

The Owls improved to 21-4 overall for the second most victories in school history, while the Falcons fall to 13-10 on the season and 5-7 in the MASCAC.

Westfield balanced attack featured five players score in double figures, led by the non-stop backcourt duo of senior Lee Vazquez and sophomore Jordan Santiago. They shared team-high scoring honors with 16 points apiece. In addition, Vazquez had five assists and four steals and Santiago registered five steals. Devine, nearly posted double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Fitchburg State outscored Westfield State from the field by three points, but the Owls marched to the free throw line 40 times and made 26 to secure their tenth victory of the season. Vazquez was 12-for-16 from the charity stripe, while Fitchburg State was 9-for-15 from the foul line for the game.

The Falcons were led by senior center Zach Valliere (Douglas, Mass./Douglas), who scored a game-high 18 points and nine rebounds while junior Mike Ingram-Rubin (Boston, Mass./Bedford) was the only other player in double figures with 11 points.

The Owls led by single digits for most of the first half but the Falcons took a 27-26 lead on a Valliere layup at the 6:02 mark. Westfield finished the half with a 10-4 run.

In the second half, Westfield held several double-digits leads but Fitchburg State kept within striking distance. The Owls led 62-48 with 8:57 remaining but the Falcons sliced the deficit to six points, 71-65, with 2:28 remaining. The Owls then scored ten straight points, including eight free throws, to clinch the conference crown.

Fitchburg State awaits its bid into the 2013 MASCAC men's basketball playoff bracket and will be in action on Tuesday evening with a time and site to be announced.