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Teng Tallies 20, Owls Defeat Salem 86-81

Kuany Teng posts 20 points in his return from injury to lift Owls past Salem.
Kuany Teng posts 20 points in his return from injury to lift Owls past Salem.

Westfield, Mass. – Westfield State junior guard Kuany Teng returned to the lineup after a nine-game absence due to injury to lead the way with 20 points and five assists as the Owls held off Salem State University, 86-81 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game at the Woodward Center on Wednesday evening. 

Wetsfield improves to 2-1 in the league and 3-11 overall, while Salem dips to 0-3 in the MASCAC and 3-11 overall. 

Teng suited up for the Owls for the first time since November 18.  He came off the bench to play 24 minutes, connecting on 5-10 from the floor, 3-7 from long range, and 7-8 from the foul line, and added five assists. 

Both teams made their runs in the game.  Salem spurted out to a 13-5 lead in the early going with guards Chris MacDonald and Jaden Castillo combining for nine of the first 13. 

Westfield closed the first half with an 18-4 scoring spurt over the final 5:02 of the frame.   Westfield's Brendon Hamilton scored seven for the Owls in that stretch, and dished to Teng for a buzzer beating layup to close the first half with a 42-34 Westfield lead. 

Salem came out of the locker room on a 10-0 blitz, grabbing a 44-42 lead on a Conner Byrne layup just 1:48 into the second half. 

The game was tied at 69-all after a layup from Salem's Jarrett Byrne with 5:18 to play, but Westfield would edge away late, as the Owls connected on 11 of 17 free throws in the final 4:20 of the game.   The Owls Brendan Keaveny punctuated the win with a breakaway dunk in the final minute. 

Hamilton had one of his best games for the season for Westfield, narrowly missing a triple-double as he scored 17 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out a career-best nine assists.   Eric Johnson also finished in double figures for the Owls with 13 points. 

Castillo led Salem with 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.  MacDonald added 22 points, and Conner Byrne finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds. 

Westfield will next travel to Worcester State on Saturday for a 12 noon matchup.  Salem will host Fitchburg State on Saturday in another conference matchup.