FOWL PLAY: Owls Make 33 FT's In Win At MCLA

WESTFIELD, Mass.    – Westfield State took advantage of 45 trips to the foul line, as the Owls converted 33 of those on the way to an 88-74 win over MCLA in North Adams, Mass. on Saturday afternoon.

Westfield improves to 12-3 on the year and stays unbeaten in conference play at 2-0.   The Trailblazers slip to 0-2 in the MASCAC and 2-12 overall.

The Owls were led by 22 points and 18 rebounds from Kenneth Rogers, Jr.  Rogers finished 7-18 from the floor, and 8-14 at the foul line, and added four assists.  Lid Moreland and Xavier Lewis each added 15 points for Westfield.

That trio counterbalanced a big day from MCLA's Quentin Gittens, who finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists.   Gittens was 9-17 from the floor and 11-16 at the foul line.

Westfield got out to a big first half lead, leading by as many as 15, at 37-22 on a paint jumper from Rogers with 3:57 left in the half.   MCLA whittled the lead down to nine, as Westfield led 43-34 at the half.

The Owls led by as many as 14 on several occasions early in the half, but the Trailblazers wouldn't let them get any further away, trimming the lead to as few as six, at 65-59 after  Gittens made one of two at the foul line with 8:39 to play.

Westfield responded with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes, capped by a Rogers free throw with 6:38 left that gave the Owls a 74-59 advantage, and Westfield held the lead at nine or better the rest of the way.

Westfield will next play on Wednesday, hosting Worcester State in conference game on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Woodward Center.