WESTFIELD, Mass. - Sophomore guard
Judah Jackson (Everett, MA) had game-highs of 22
points and six steals, and sophomore forward Nicholas
Motta (Fairhaven, MA) had 16 points and a game-high nine
rebounds to lead Bridgewater State to a hard-fought 73-60 victory
over Westfield State in a key Massachusetts State College
Athletic Conference (MASCAC) game on Saturday afternoon, Jan.
31.
Bridgewater, 13-5 overall, is in sole possession of first place in
the MASCAC with a 6-1 record; it was the seventh straight victory
for the Bears. Westfield is 5-2 in the conference and 12-7 overall.
Idle Salem is 5-1 in MASCAC play.
The first half was less than spectacular as the Bears led at the
intermission, 27-20. Westfield committed 13 first-half turnovers,
Bridgewater had seven, as the teams combined to only take 47
shots.
Bridgewater never trailed and led by as many as 14 points, 38-24,
on a 3-point basket by Corey Connor (Providence,
RI) with 16:56 remaining.
Both teams continued to play hard in-your-face defense and the Owls
closed within two points, 52-50, on a 3-point basket by Joe
Dicruttalo (Franklin, MA) at the 6:24 mark. But
Bridgewater responded with a 5-0 run over the next minute.
Westfield trailed by four, 59-55, with 3:29 remaining, then
Bridgewater scored seven straight points to seal the road
victory.
Also playing well down the stretch for the Bears was 6-6 senior
forward Roland Millien (Stoughton, MA), who scored
12 points.
Westfield had four players in double figures, led by junior forward
Asa Abbott's (New Paltz, NY) 14 points. Senior
guard Dave Jaehnig (Quincy) scored 11 points and
junior forward Drew Pereira (Seekonk) and
DiCruttalo each tallied 10 points. Abbott also grabbed a team-high
eight rebounds.
Westfield out-rebounded Bridgwater, 38-28, but the Bears shot 47
percent from the field to the Owls' 38 percent. Bridgewater was 22
for 27 from the foul line.