Westfield State Shoots Past Men's Basketball 78-63

Framingham, Mass. - The Framingham State University men's basketball team used a late second half run to pull within five, but Westfield State was able to hold on for a 78-63 victory over the Rams this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Logan Gymnasium.   

THE BASICS: 

- Scores:  Westfield State 78, Framingham State 63 

- Records:  Framingham State (9-11, 3-4 MASCAC), Westfield State (16-4, 6-1 MASCAC) 

- Location:  Logan Gymnasium – Framingham, Mass.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• The Rams received 14 points apiece from JD Okafor and Kyle Philistin. Okafor connected on 6-of-8 from the floor and added six rebounds and an assist. Philistin filled the stat sheet with six rebounds, an assist and two blocks. 

• Adonis Vashon came off the bench to tally 12 points on 6-of-11 from the field and added five rebounds, while Joshua Saint Jean tallied nine points with five rebounds. 

• The Owls opened the game with a 9-0 run before the Rams got on the board on a JD Okafor layup. The Owls extended the lead to 16-6 midway through the frame and led 29-14 with just over six to play. The Rams pulled back within nine on a pair of Saint Jean free throws, but the Owls got a late bucket to head to the locker room leading 37-26. 

• The Owls opened the second half extending the lead to 49-29 just under three minutes into the game. The Rams chipped away at the lead and pulled within eight, 49-41, on a pair of Philistin free throws with just over 13 to play. 

• The Owls pushed the lead back to ten before the Ram used a 7-2 run closing the gap to 53-48 with just over nine to play.  Westfield countered with an 8-0 spurt pushing the lead back to double figures. The Rams used three free throws from Marshall Kerley to pull within nine, 70-61, with 2:43 to play, but the Owls scored six straight points to secure the victory. 

UP NEXT 

• The Rams are back in action Wednesday night when they travel to Bridgewater State at 5:30 p.m.