Men's College Basketball    

SATURDAY, November 23, 2013

Emmanuel College 74

Westfield State University 65

Emmanuel notched its first victory of the season in four games while Westfield sustained its first setback in four starts.

Poor shooting, especially from 3-point range, and free throws plagued the Owls. After making two quick 3-point baskets to jump out to a 6-0 lead, the Owls struggled from beyond the arc and shattered the school record for 3-point attempts in a game.

Westfield only shot 32 percent from the field (19 for 58), including a staggering 9-for-38 performance from 3-point land. The former school record was 29 3-point attempts.

Also, the Owls allowed the most free throw attempts in a game by an opponent. Emmanuel went to the line 45 times and made 33 free throws. Westfield was 18 for 32 from the sin stripe in the foul-marred game in which the officials blew their whistles 57 times. Westfield was called for 29 fouls.

Only one player fouled out for the Owls but it was a key disqualification as leading scorer and team captain Grant Cooper picked up three quick fouls early in the second half, including a technical, and was done for the day with 18:14 remaining.

The closing minutes of the first half also were crucial. Westfield led 27-26 when Emmanuel went on an 11-0 run to take a 37-27 halftime lead. During the key run, the Saints scored on eight free throws and a Sullivan 3-point basket.

Emmanuel held a double-digit lead for most of the second half. Westfield made a final push, closing to within six points, 67-61, on a 3-point basket by Dan Johnson with 3:15 remaining. But Emmanuel guard Julian Diggs hit a huge floater in the lane to make it 69-61. Diggs canned two free throws for a 71-61 advantage at the 2:30 mark. Johnson nailed another trey to cut the deficit to seven, 71-64, with 1:33 remaining but the Owls ran out of time.

Four Owls scored in double figures, led by junior guard Jordan Santiago's game-high 19 points. The former Westfield High School standout also had eight steals and four assists. Senior center Carl Stewart had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Scoring 10 points apiece off the bench were Johnson and freshman center Shan Pasquantonio.