Jauch Green, Jr. (file photo)
WESTFIELD, Mass. - Westfield State University got 18 points and eight rebounds from junior transfer forward
Jauch Green, Jr. (Cromwell HS/Hartford, Conn.), as the Owls posted an 84-63 win over Clarkson University in the opening game of the Rick Martin - Holiday Inn Express Tournament at the Woodward Center on Friday evening.
Westfield used spurts to start and close the first half, jumping out to an 11-2 lead early, and leading 35-26 at the break.
Westfield led 26-24 with 3:01 to play in the half, when Green scored on a layup to spark a 9-2 run to close the half.
The Owls used 11 players in the first half, all of whom scored in a balanced attack.
Clarkson stayed in the game behind 11 points from Matt Higgins (South Glens Falls, N.Y.), while Westfield connected on just three of 10 free throws to keep the door open for the Golden Knights.
The Owls started the second stanza with an 11-4 run that was capped by a Green layup that pushed the lead to 16 points, and Westfield held Clarkson at arms' length for the rest of the game, not allowing the lead to be cut to less than 15 points at any time.
Marcus Collins (Cambridge Rindge and Latin/Cambridge, Mass.) added 14 points for Westfield, with
Ant Reynolds (Cathedral/Springfield, Mass.) adding 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in a solid all-around game.
For Clarkson, Liam Ellis (Turners Falls, Mass.) led with 13 points, while Higgins finished with 11 and Reese Swedberg (Moultonborough, N.H.) added eight points and 10 rebounds.
Westfield State (2-0) advances to tomorrow's championship game at 3:00 p.m., while Clarkson (0-2) will play in the consolation final at 1:00 p.m.
RAMAPO 82, GORDON 66
Senior forward Rob Lewis (Copiaque/Long Island, N.Y.) scored 35 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as Ramapo College held off Gordon College 82-66 in the nightcap of the Rick Martin–Holiday Inn Express men's basketball tournament at the Woodward Center at Westfield State University on Friday night.
With the win, the Roadrunners (3-0) will face host Westfield State University in the championship game at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, while Gordon (1-1) will meet Clarkson in the consolation final at 1:00 p.m.
Tied at 28-all with less than five minutes to play in the first half, the Roadrunners used a quick 10-0 run, fueled by a pair of three pointers from Kashaun Barnes (Manchester/Toms River, N.J.), to build the lead, and Ramapo led 44-34 at the half.
Gordon's Noah Szilagyi (Thunder Ridge/ HighlandsRanch, Colo.) hit a three-pointer to open the second half to briefly trim the lead to seven, but that was as close as the Scots would get.
Ramapo added a 12-1 burst midway through the second half to boost the lead to as many as 20 points.
Barnes finished with 15 and Andre Morgan (Copiaque/Long Island, N.Y.) 12 to help lead the way for Ramapo.
Eric Demers (Famouth/Acushnet, Mass.) scored 17 to lead the Fighting Scots. Garrisson Duvivier added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Gordon, and Szilagyi finished with 12.
Westfield defeated Clarkson, 84-63 in the early game this evening.
Ramapo won the Rick Martin-Holiday Inn Tournament in 2016, defeating Westfield State, 79-66, however each team returns just two players who saw action in that matchup two years ago.
Box Score