Nov. 19, 2011

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - Junior guard Lee Vazquez (Attleboro, Mass.) netted a team-high 21 points to lead the Westfield State University men's basketball team past Emmanuel College, 85-73, Saturday evening in the Championship game of the 2011 Saints Invitational tournament. For his efforts, Vazquez was named the tournament MVP, averaging 19.5 ppg over the two tournament games. With the victory, the Owls improve to 2-0 while the Saints drop to 1-1.

The Saints never led in the contest as the Owls used a strong shooting attack of 64% from the field (32-59) to capture their first Saints Invitational crown. Trailing by seven points at the half, Emmanuel was able to keep the game within striking distance over the opening ten minutes of the second stanza but was never able to get over the hump.

A jumped by junior guard Armani Gill (Boston, Mass.) pulled the Saints to within four with 10:04 left in the half but it would be the closest Emmanuel would come throughout the remainder of the game. Senior center Marcellus Lee (Quincy, Mass.) gave the Owls their biggest lead of the half with a layup with 2:50 left in the game, pulling Westfield State ahead by 14 at 79-65. Emmanuel would make up some ground before the final buzzer but it would not be enough as the visitors would hold on for the 83-72 road victory.

In the first half of play, the Owls came out of the gates firing on all cylinders to take an early 6-0 lead but Emmanuel was able to battle back and even the match with a pair of free throws by senior forward Isaiah Duke (Albany, N.Y.) to make it 8-8 at the 15:30 mark. Westfield State would answer with a 11-0 run capped by a three point field goal by junior guard Travis Nally (Melrose, Mass.) to open up a 19-8 lead with 12:01 left to play in the opening stanza.

The Owls would extend their lead to as many as 15 points, pulling ahead 36-21 following another Owl three-ball by Vazquez with 4:03 remaining in the frame but the Saints would respond with a 9-0 run fueled by five points from Duke to make it 36-30, Westfield State with 2:12 left in the half. The squads would exchange baskets to head into halftime with the score at 39-32 in favor of the visitors.

Lee would finish the contest with 18 points while junior center Matt Devine (Pembroke, Mass.) contributed a double-double with 16 points and game-high 14 rebounds.

For Emmanuel, Duke ended the night with a game-best 24 point outing while junior guard Michael Mailhot (Noriwch, Conn.) enjoyed a solid night from behind the arc, nailing four treys and a pair of free throws for a 14 point effort.

Both squads return to action on Tuesday, November 22 when the Saints host MIT at 7:00 PM while the Owls entertain Fischer College in their home-opener at 7:00 PM.

2011 EC Saints All-Tournament Team MVP - Jr. Guard Lee Vazquez - Westfield State University Jr. Center Matt Devine - Westfield State University Sr. Center Marcellus Lee - Westfield State University Sr. Guard Isaiah Duke - Emmanuel College Jr. Forward Xavier Everson - Emmanuel College Sr. Guard Brendan Degnan - Wheaton College