WESTON, Mass. – Ryan Chambers (Abington, Mass.) poured in a career-high 30 points but it was not enough as Regis College fell to Westfield State University, 72-60, on Tuesday night in non-conference men's basketball action in Weston, Mass. The Owls improve to 4-0 on the season, while Regis drops to 0-4.
Chambers knocked down 10-of-17 shots from the field, including a 6-for-12 showing from behind the arc. His 30 points sets a new career-high after the junior scored 27 points in a win over Daniel Webster last season. Chambers also tied his own program record for three-pointers made in a game with his six triples.
Regis jumped out to an early 11-3 lead to start the game as Chambers scored seven points during the opening run. Westfield State responded with an 11-0 run of its own capped off by a Carlo Buono (Lynn, Mass.) three-ball that made it a 14-11 Westfield lead with 12:17 remaining in the opening half. Regis cut it to 14-13 on a Chambers layup, but another three from Buono followed by a Ryan White (Philadelphia, Pa.) bucket stretched the Owls lead back out to six at 19-13.
The teams went back-and-forth before a pair of Mario Payne (Boston, Mass.) free throws made it a one point game at 22-21 headed into the last six minutes of play. The Owls withstood the push by Regis and ended the period on an 11-1 run to take a commanding 33-22 lead at the half.
Ryan Chambers led all scorers at the break with 11 points, while Ethan Peana (Staten Island, N.Y.) grabbed five rebounds. Westfield State was led by seven points from Ryan White and six points from Carlo Buono. White and Grant Cooper (Northampton, Mass.) added four rebounds apiece in the opening stanza.
Out of the break, Westfield State built its lead up to 16 on a three pointer by Ken Reed (Mission Hill, Mass.). The Owls took their largest lead of the game at 64-43 on a pair of Grant Cooper free throws before the Pride tried to fight their way back into the game. Carlos Bermudez-Glean's (Boston, Mass.) first three-pointer of the season made it a 65-50 game and a triple by Chambers nearly two minutes later cut it to a 14-point deficit at 69-55.
Westfield's Matt Devine (Pembroke, Mass.) added two late free-throws before Regis scored five straight points on a Payne jumper and Chambers' sixth three-ball of the day. Chrys Malone (Springfield, Mass.) went 1-for-2 at the line in the final minute to give Westfield the 72-60 victory.
Westfield edged Regis on the glass 32-30 and also held a 12-19 advantage in turnovers. The Owls turned the 19 Regis missteps into 24 points off turnovers. Both teams shot well from the field with Westfield State shooting 23-of-52 (44.2%) and Regis shooting 22-of-50 (44.0%) from the floor.
Jordan Monts (Springfield, Mass.) chipped in eight points for Regis off the bench, while Ethan Peana added six points, four assists, and a season-high 10 rebounds. Carlos Bermudez-Glean added seven points in the setback.
Westfield's Carlos Buono knocked down five three-pointers en route to a team-high 15 points. Jordan Santiago (Westfield, Mass.) joined him in double figures with 11 points, while Matt Devine and Ken Reed added 10 points apiece. Grant Cooper just missed out on a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds.
The Crimson and Gold continue the search for their first win of the season on Thursday night when the Pride travels to Wheaton College for a 7:00 p.m. matchup against the Lyons. Westfield looks to make it five-straight wins when they host Springfield College at 8:00 p.m. in the opening round of the Pioneer Valley Classic in Westfield, Mass. on Friday night.