Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Nov. 16) – The Westfield State University Owls used a game-high 23 points from sophomore guard Lee Vazquez to tip off the season with an 88-70 victory over Nichols College.

The real story of the game was the play of the Westfield State big men. Although Nichols got out to an early nine point lead behind the hot hand of freshman Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.), who scored 10 points in the first half and finished with 17, the play of Westfield State down low was too much for Nichols to keep it that way.

Sophomore Matt Devine led the Owls in the first half with 12 rebounds and two blocks, while scoring eight points. Devine was kept off the scoreboard in the second half, but finished with a game-high 15 rebounds and four blocks. As a team the Owls out-rebounded Nichols in the first half 27 to 18 with four blocks.

For the game, Westfield State outscored Nichols in the paint 36-20 and had a rebounding edge of 52-30.

Nichols shot just 23.5% from beyond the arch in the first half with a field goal percentage of 31.4%. The Owls shot just under 44% and as a result carried a 32-30 lead into the second half.

The Owls brought the same intensity out of the locker room going on a 13-3 run in the first 4:33 of the second half. After the teams traded a few baskets, Nichols proceeded to go on a 10-2 run to get back within seven points at 53-46 with 11:10 remaining in the second half, but that was as close as they would get. The Owls would eventually increase the lead to 20 with just 1:10 remaining and came out with an 88-70 victory.

Westfield State got the outside game going as well in the second half shooting 40% from three point range and 51.6 % from the field.

Along with 23 points, Vazquez came up with eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Owls junior Marcellus Lee finished the game with 16 points and seven rebounds.

Nichols sophomore Justin Kuntz (Wallingford, Conn) scored 14 points and pulled in four rebounds, while classmate Kyle Mascilak (Sparta, N.J.) joined in with 13 points.

Nichols (0-1) returns to action on Friday November 19 to take on WPI in the Worcester County Classic at 5:30 pm at Becker. The Owls (1-0) will travel to Newark, N.J. for the Rutgers-Newark Tournament on Friday.

Box Score