Box Score
WORCESTER - Lee Vazquez - a 5-6 freshman guard from Attleboro, Mass. (Woonsocket, R.I. High School) - posted games highs of 23 points, five assists and three steals, along with a team-high nine rebounds, to power Westfield State to a 76-56 victory over Worcester State on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
In just his second start, Vazquez's impressive night led the Owls to their first MASCAC victory. The Owls improve to 8-7 overall while the Lancers fall to 6-7. Both teams are 1-1 in the conference.
Vazquez scored his points with a solid 8-for-18 performance from the field, including four 3-pointers made, and he was perfect from the charity stripe (3-for-3). Vazquez also recorded three stelas and - maybe the most important statistic - he had no turnovers.
Westfield was also led by senior Asa Abbot's (New Paltz, NY) 20 points while junior guard Vilenti Tulloch (Springfield, MA) and freshman center Matt Devine (Pembroke, MA) combined for 17 points. Junior Jesse Devine (Granby, MA) grabbed 7 boards off the bench.
Worcested was led by senior Maurice Horton's (Detroit, MI/Burncoat) 23rd double-double in his career as he finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Pat Hamilton (Templeton, MA) and junior Dave Douillette (Bridgewater, MA) each added 10 points apiece while Hamilton tacked on a line of eight caroms. Horton also ended the evening with four assists.
The pace of the first half swung back and forth like a pendulum as there were 15 lead changes and 6 ties while neither team was ahead by more than three. With the game knotted at 30-30 at the 3:00 mark, Westfield State used an 8-0 run with all eight coming from Vazquez, including back-to-back three pointers, to take a 38-30 advantage into the intermission.
The Owls maintained their cushion as the Lancers tried to get back into the game, but they could not overcome the deficit. Worcester got as close as nine points three times midway through the stanza, before Westfield State took control of the contest. With the Owls up 52-43 with 10:33 remaining, the visitors used a 14-6 spurt to go ahead 66-49 at 3:49 and the largest lead of the game came in the form of the final score.
Worcester State held leads in rebounds (45-41), offensive boards (17-11), points in the paint (34-24) and bench points (23-19) while Westfield State held slim advantages in points off of turnovers (9-8) and second chance points (9-6).
The key statistic in the game was three-point shooting. The Lancers connected for just two of their 22 attempts while they allowed the Owls to shoot 9-for-22 from beyond the arc (41%).
Worcester hosts Anna Maria on Thursday at 3 PM in non-conference action while the Owls will take a break until their 3 PM matchup with Salem State at home on Saturday.