Owls Earn 97-85 Win Over Vikings

SALEM, Mass. – Westfield State handed Salem State a 97-85 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) loss this evening at Twohig Gymnasium. The win gives the Owls a 15-4 overall record and 5-1 conference mark. The Vikings are now 7-12 and 4-2 in the MASCAC.

Angel Price-Espada produced a game-high 28 points for Westfield State off the bench while Lid Moreland netted 19 points to go with six rebounds and five steals. Timmy Jacobus added a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Owls. 

Tyrese Rho paced four Salem State players in double figures as he led the Vikings with 24 points on 7-for-11 (63.6%) shooting and went a perfect 8-for-8 (100.0%) from the line. Omri Merryman tallied 21 points and nine rebounds while Nicholas Martinez added 13 points. Liam Byrne contributed a double-double of 12 points and tied a season-high with 17 rebounds.      

How it Happened:

• Price-Espada had 17 points in just 12 minutes of action in the first half as the Owls built a five-point halftime advantage (50-45). 
• Neither team led by more than three points over the first eight minutes of the game. Two free throws by A.Z. Allah gave Westfield State a 23-18 advantage at the 11:36 mark.   
• The Owls built a seven-point cushion, but the Vikings tied the game 38-all after two free throws by Merryman with 4:35 left. Four quick points by Price-Espada put the Owls in front, but a Martinez basket and three by Rho, temporarily gave Salem State the lead by one, 43-42 with less than two minutes remaining.   
• However, an 8-2 run by the Owls to close the half with all the points coming from Price-Espada put Westfield State on top by five at the half.
• The Owls never trailed in the second half as Salem State turned the ball over 10 times after halftime. Two free throws by Eric Johnson pushed the lead to double-digits, 62-52 before a layup by Price-Espada gave Westfield State their largest lead at 69-55 with just over six and a half minutes left. 
• The Vikings drew to within six following a Rho and-one, but Salem State went cold from the floor, not scoring again for almost two minutes. A three-pointer by Merryman made it a six-point game with 1:52 left, but a three-point play by Moreland and free throws by Xavier Lewis pushed the lead back to 10 with just over a minute remaining as the Owls went on to win by 12, 97-85.            

Inside the Numbers:

• 19 Salem State turnovers led to 27 points for the Owls. 
• Westfield State's bench led by Price-Espada outscored Salem State's 42-7.
• The Owls finished with 40 free throws, but were just 27-40 (67.5%) from the line.
• The Vikings outrebounded Westfield State, 43-40.  

Up Next

Salem State will host MASCAC rival Bridgewater State at noon this Saturday, February, 01 at noon.