SAINTS DOWNED AT WESTFIELD STATE DESPITE MINETTI'S 25

WESTFIELD, Mass. –  Freshman guard Peter Mafo (Lynn Classical/Lynn, Mass.) came off the bench to score 17 points and handed out six assists to lead Westfield State to an 84-75 win over Emmanuel College in a non-conference men's basketball game at the Woodward Center on Saturday afternoon.

Westfield State improves to 2-2 with the win, while Emmanuel drops to 0-3 on the season.

Westfield led 34-21 at the half, behind 12 first-half points from junior center Shane Pasquantonio (Ashland/Ashland, Mass.). 

The Owls managed the lead in the second half, never letting the Saints get closer than six points, 39-33 with 14:35 left in the game. 

Mafo's play sparked the Owls in the second half, keying several Saints turnovers and pushing the pace.  Jose Allen (Amherst/Amherst, Mass.) hit four three pointers for the Owls in the second half, and Pasquantonio swept the boards late, finishing with 14 rebounds, including 11 of on the defensive end. 

Emmanuel was led by 25 points from sophomore forward Alex Minetti (Providence Country Day/Wakefield, R.I.) on 10-19 shooting, including 5-9 from three-point range.  Joe Tamburro (S. Windsor/S Windsor, Conn.) added 12 points and John Clay (Westport/Westport, Mass.) scored eight points and grebbed nine rebounds for the Saints. 

Pasquantonio finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Owls. Allen added 13 points. Westfield had 12 players appear in the scoring column. The Owls were 27-38 (71 pct)  at the foul line and scored 20 points on the fast break. 

Westfield will be back in action on Tuesday, November 24, hosting Nichols College at 7:30 p.m.  Emmanuel will be idle until traveling to St. Joseph's College (ME) on Dec. 1.