Jackson Leads Men's Basketball to 73-60 Win over Westfield

Box Score

WESTFIELD, Mass. - Sophomore guard Judah Jackson (Everett, MA) had game-highs of 22 points and six steals, and sophomore forward Nicholas Motta (Fairhaven, MA) had 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds to lead Bridgewater State to a hard-fought 73-60 victory over Westfield State in a key Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) game on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 31.

Bridgewater, 13-5 overall, is in sole possession of first place in the MASCAC with a 6-1 record; it was the seventh straight victory for the Bears. Westfield is 5-2 in the conference and 12-7 overall. Idle Salem is 5-1 in MASCAC play.

The first half was less than spectacular as the Bears led at the intermission, 27-20. Westfield committed 13 first-half turnovers, Bridgewater had seven, as the teams combined to only take 47 shots.

Bridgewater never trailed and led by as many as 14 points, 38-24, on a 3-point basket by Corey Connor (Providence, RI) with 16:56 remaining.

Both teams continued to play hard in-your-face defense and the Owls closed within two points, 52-50, on a 3-point basket by Joe Dicruttalo (Franklin, MA) at the 6:24 mark. But Bridgewater responded with a 5-0 run over the next minute.

Westfield trailed by four, 59-55, with 3:29 remaining, then Bridgewater scored seven straight points to seal the road victory.

Also playing well down the stretch for the Bears was 6-6 senior forward Roland Millien (Stoughton, MA), who scored 12 points.

Westfield had four players in double figures, led by junior forward Asa Abbott's (New Paltz, NY) 14 points. Senior guard Dave Jaehnig (Quincy) scored 11 points and junior forward Drew Pereira (Seekonk) and DiCruttalo each tallied 10 points. Abbott also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

Westfield out-rebounded Bridgwater, 38-28, but the Bears shot 47 percent from the field to the Owls' 38 percent. Bridgewater was 22 for 27 from the foul line.