WESTFIELD, Mass. – Junior forward Grant Cooper (Northampton, MA) scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds to lead Westfield State University to a 75-67 men's basketball victory over Bridgewater State University on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Westfield improves to 5-3 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and 12-8 overall. Bridgewater, which bested Westfield earlier this season, 79-71, is also 5-3 in the MASCAC and 11-10 overall.
Cooper turned in another monster effort in leading the Owls to their fourth straight victory. The 6-3, 215-pound swingman totaled 14 points and seven rebounds in sparking Westfield to a 38-32 halftime lead. In the second half, he took over in the final minutes after Bridgewater had taken a 48-43 lead.
"Grant's game was unbelievable. Nobody plays the game with more heart than he does," said Westfield State head coach Rich Sutter.
Sutter also lauded his team's defense, which held Bridgewater to 32 percent field goal shooting (10 for 31) in the second half. The Bears shot 50 percent from the floor (14 for 28) in the first half.
"Defense was the key, especially in the second half. We shut down their shooters," said Sutter.
There were seven lead changes and the score was tied six times in the first half. Westfield made the initial run, an 11-0 spurt to give the host team a 30-20 advantage with 5:07 remaining in the first half. Bridgewater quickly countered with an 8-0 run, capped by a 3-point basket by Garey Allen (Windsore, CT).
Bridgewater's final run came midway through the second half. A 10-0 scoring spurt vaulted the Bears to their 48-43 lead with 10:14 remaining. Allen scored five points and Kyle Gibson (Franklin, MA) added an old fashioned 3-point play during the run.
Westfield then took a 58-55 lead at the 5:45 mark following consecutive baskets by senior center Carl Stewart (Springfield, MA).
Bridgewater tied the score for the final time, 58-all on a 3-point basket by Tyler DeMelo (East Freetown, MA). Westfield surged ahead to stay when it scored six straight points on a Cooper layup and four free throws from Robby Jones (Chicopee, MA). A minute later, Cooper converted a conventional 3-point play for a 67-60 edge with 2:04 remaining.
Westfield made enough free throws down the stretch to secure the key conference victory. The Owls were 16 for 26 from the foul line and won the battle of the boards, 44-29.
Jones finished with 16 points, including 9 of 10 free throws. Also scoring in double figures was freshman reserve guard Jesus Sanchez with 10 points. Stewart contributed eight points and 10 rebounds.
Bridgewater senior guard Brendan Monteiro (Brockton, MA) scored a team-high 19 points before fouling out late in the game. He also had five assists and three steals. Junior forward Michael Lofton (Mansfield, MA) posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 points. Also scoring in double figures were Gibson (12) and Allen (10).