WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State men's basketball is set to host the Rick Martin/ Hampton Inn Tournament from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Massachusetts this weekend. The Owls tip-off against #14 Middlebury College on Friday, November 18 at 5:30 PM, followed by Nichols College facing New England College at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the pairings flip in this year's classic format, with Westfield meeting New England College at 1:00 PM and Middlebury playing Nichols at 3:00 p.m.

Last year, the Owls went 2-0 at the tournament to win the title, overcoming both Northern-Vermont Lyndon, 110-76 and William Paterson University, 96-79. The Owls were led by senior guard Justin Rennis who led the way against Northern-Vermont Lyndon with a career-high 24 points, and then junior forward Brandon Hamilton who posted career-highs in points with 32 and rebounds with 22.

This year, the Owls are off to a slow start at 0-4 overall. Senior forward JT Thompson (Columbia, S.C.) leads the way for the Owls offensively, averaging 13 points on 33.3 field goal %. Thompson is averaging four made three-point field goals over 10 attempts a game. Junior guard Gerry McManus (Hudson, Mass.) leads all Owls in assists per game with 2.3 assists per game. Brandon Hamilton leads in rebounds per game, scrapping for 5.3 rebounds per game. Hamilton also leads all Owls in steals with 1.5 steals per game. 

New England College (0-2) is led by the first-year backcourt of Jason Stovall (Tampa, Fla.) and Stravis Lutchman (Bradenton, Fla.). Stovall averages 10 points per game along with an assist and a steal through his first two games. Through his rookie season, Lutchman is leading the Pilgrims in scoring with 11.5 points per game with a field goal percentage of 57.1 percent, coupled with a 66.6 percent three-point completion rate on two makes per three attempts per game. Junior forward Treyjon Lewis (Norwalk, Conn.) leads the way for the pilgrims on the backboards, grabbing 11 boards per game.

Middlebury College (18-6 in 2021-22) enters the year ranked #14 in the nation in the D3Hoops.com men's basketball poll, and will make their season debut on Friday. Westfield lost a tight 78-69 game to Middlebury in the first round of the 2020 NCAA Tournament on a neutral court.  Hamilton is the lone player from either team to have seen action in that contest.   The Panthers were led last season by 16.5 points per game from senior forward Alex Sobel.

Nichols comes into the weekend with a 2-1 record, as the Bison are coming off a 94-75 win over Anna Maria, which saw a 27-point game from Ty Rucker, where he also purloined a program record eight steals.

You can follow the Rick Martin/ Hampton Inn Tournament live with video for all games at https://www.westfieldstateowls.com/boxcast