Men's Basketball Falls to Westfield State on Senior Night, 84-80

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- A frustrating regular season marred by a rash of injuries came to a close for the Bridgewater State University men's basketball team Wednesday night.

The Bears threw a scare into first-place Westfield State University before losing the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup, 84-80, before a large crowd at the Tinsley Center.

BSU (10-15) will now wait until the weekend to find out its opponent for next Tuesday night's conference tourney opener.

The Bears finished the MASCAC 5-7 and are currently in fourth place, one-half game ahead of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Framingham State University (both 4-7
with games on Saturday afternoon).

If the Bears wind up in the fourth spot, they will host the first game of the MASCAC tourney.

On Senior Night against the Owls (19-5, 9-2), BSU was behind by 12 points with just over seven minutes to go.

But the Bears rallied to within two points in the final minute, then had the ball down three points with 20 seconds left but could not get a shot off.

Once again, BSU played without a key rotation player as junior Samuel Omisore (Boston, Mass.) missed the game with an injury.

At various points this season, five other important pieces of the rotation have been sidelined, including two with season-ending injuries.

But after an 0-4 start in the MASCAC, BSU won five of its final eight conference games. The Bears are one of two MASCAC teams to defeat Westfield State and nearly pulled off a sweep.

"I just think our guys are resilient," said coach Matt McLaughlin. "We're stepping up to challenges. We've faced a lot of challenges as far as injuries go.

"With that being said, I thought our guys did a really nice job of putting us in a situation to win the game tonight."

Sophomore Josh Campbell (Plymouth, Mass.) led the way with 19 points, hitting three 3-pointers, and grabbed four rebounds with two blocked shots for the Bears.

Senior TJ Williams (Jupiter, Fla.), returning after a five-game absence, added 15 points with five 3-pointers in eight tries and five rebounds.

Also in double figures were junior Dante Kikuba (Framingham, Mass.) with 12 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in 26 minutes, and senior Alvin Chukwuezi (Nashua, N.H.) with 10 points and seven rebounds to go with three blocks.

Westfield State, which holds a one-game lead over Worcester State with a game to play, received 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds from Kenneth Rogers Jr. (Springfield, Mass.), and 16 points and eight rebounds from Lid Moreland (Bridgeport, Conn.).

Eric Johnson (Houston, Texas) added 13 points and seven rebounds while Kobe Parker (Chicopee, Mass.) scored 11 points off the bench.

BSU's largest lead was 20-12 with 12:38 to go in the first half on a Campbell jumper, but Moreland and Rogers Jr. combined for 194 first-half points and the Owls led, 42-34, at the break.

The Bears pulled even at 50 with 16:07 left on a 3-pointer by graduate student Noah Downing (Brockton, Mass.) and trailed, 64-63, with 10 minutes to go after a Campbell foul shots.

But the Owls scored 11 straight points for a 75-63 lead with 7:14 to go, five of the points coming from Moreland.

BSU was behind, 77-65, with less than six minutes to go before getting within 82-80 with 1:03 remaining.

That 15-5 run was highlighted by 3-pointers from Williams, Campbell and senior Alex Gonzalez (Peabody, Mass.).

Four foul shots by Kikuba cut the Owls' lead to two points.

Johnson made a foul shot with 26 seconds left, giving the Bears the ball and a chance to tie with a 3-pointer. But a turnover ended the Bears' bid as Johnson clinched it with another foul shot.

"They keep fighting," said McLaughlin of his shorthanded team. "They've done a nice job holding it together. The leaders have held us together. When you have leaders provide that positive voice you keep everybody together.

"We were there tonight, but a couple of turnovers hurt us."

Thanks to a bye on Saturday, the Bears will have five days off before playing a tourney game.

"It's important for us," said McLaughlin. "We need Sam to get healty and TJ needs to get ready. He's a huge lift for us."

In a pregame ceremony, the four seniors -- Williams, Gonzalez, Chukwuezi and Tyler Uyemura (Kersey, Col.) -- along with graduate student Downing were honored.