BOSTON – Despite shooting 49.3 percent and producing their highest offensive output of the season, Emmanuel men's basketball fell to 0-4 this season following a 99-89 loss to Westfield State on Wednesday evening on Andy Yosinoff Court.
The Saints remain winless despite season-highs in field goals made and three-pointers made. Westfield State moves to 4-2 this season after a night of 52.2 percent shooting, including 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.
After a back-and-forth offensive showing by the two sides in the opening seven minutes had Westfield ahead 21-20 with 12:54 left in the half, the Owls broke free with a 23-7 run over the next 7:56 to surge ahead 44-27.
Westfield State shot 8-of-11 over the run, putting them ahead by 17. A credit to spreading the offense, sophomore
Xavier Lewis led the Owls with just five points in that surge. Senior
Angel Price-Espada and first-year
Kenney Rogers each added four points.
The Saints answered with a 10-1 run, cutting the deficit back to single digits at 45-37 with 2:29 in the first half. Sophomore
Mahari Guerrier had four of the 10 points in the bounce-back. The deficit would eventually finish at 10 at the half as Rogers beat the buzzer on a layup, giving the Owls a 52-42 halftime edge.
Westfield's lead stayed around 10 for much of the opening minutes of the second half before the Owls jumped out to their largest lead of the evening, using a 19-9 run in the middle of the second to take a 78-58 lead.
Emmanuel could only close to within nine with 3:06 to go as free throws and layups down the stretch by the Owls kept the comeback at bay. The Owls scored the second-most points of their early season, coming away with a 99-89 victory.
Three Owls finished with at least 20 points, led by senior
Lid Moreland, who finished with 23 points thanks to 8-of-14 shooting and a perfect 6-for-6 at the line. Rogers and Price-Espada each finished with 22 points. Rogers added 13 rebounds while Price-Espada had five steals, both game-highs.
Guerrier finished with a career-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds. Six of the sophomore's seven boards came on the offensive end. Junior
Zaire Baines and sophomore
Noah Beaudet each added 16 points. Baines added seven assists while Beaudet led all bench scorers with his 16 points in 26 minutes.
The Saints will search for their first win of the season on Saturday, Nov. 23, as they head to Bowdoin College for a 3:00 p.m. tip. The Owls carry on with a trip to Anna Maria on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 6:00 p.m.