Men’s Basketball Holds Off Westfield State for 70-64 Win

Framingham, Mass. - Senior forward Josue Almodovar (Holyoke, Mass.) scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds to lead the Framingham State College men's basketball team to a 70-64 win over Westfield State today in Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action.  With the win, the Rams even their record at 8-8 overall and improve to 4-2 in the MASCAC, while the Owls fall to 8-10 on the season and 1-4 in conference.

The Rams opened the game on a 16-2 run over the first seven minutes as Westfield State shot just one for their first eight and committed six turnovers over that stretch.  Senior forward Roderick Jackson (Cambridge, Mass.) scored the Rams first six points and senior guard Billy Carey (Abington, Mass.) scored their next five.  The Rams maintained a double digit lead throughout the first half and headed into the break up 35-21.

In the second half, the Rams extended their lead to as many as 21 points with 6:58 remaining before the Owls mounted a comeback.  With the Rams leading 69-49 with 3:10 remaining, the Owls went on a 15-1 run to pull within six with 19 seconds remaining.  Freshman Sean Sullivan (Leominster, Mass.) fueled the run with six points over that stretch.  The Owls would get no closer than six as the Rams held on for the win.

Senior guard Darius Yarrell (Brockton, Mass.) finished the game 5-of-9 from the floor and 2-of-3 from behind the arc for 15 points, while Jackson finished with 12 points and seven boards.

Matt Devine (Pembroke, Mass.) led the Owls with a team-high 16 points and nine rebounds, while Joe Dicruttalo (Franklin, Mass.) finished with 15 points and nine boards.

The Rams return to action next Saturday as they host Fitchburg State at 3 p.m., while the Owls host Fitchburg State on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.