WESTFIELD, Mass.  –   Kean University got 20 points each from Griffin Baker and Lettrell West, as the Cougars ran out to a big first half lead before holding sway over the Owls, 87-71 in a first-round game of the Lafrance Hospitality Tournament at UMass-Dartmouth on Friday afternoon.

For the second straight game the Owls fell behind early, never leading in the game as Kean led 56-31 at the half.  The Cougars made 17 of their first 28 shots (60.7 pct) in building the big lead, and took advantage of 11 first-half turnovers by the Owls and turned those into 19 points.

Westfield ground its way back in the second half, getting the lead down to 17, at 65-48 after a jumper fron Brendon Hamilton with 11:15 left in the game, but could get no closer until the final score as the Cougars kept the Owls at bay for the rest of the game.

Kumar Brown led the Owls with 13 points off the bench, Kobe Parker added 12. Timmy Jacobus netted nine points on 3-5 shooting from behind the arc.   Hamilton finished with eight points and nine rebounds as Westfield's starting five combined for just 26 points.

Westfield (0-2) will play in the consolation final tomorrow at noon against Connecticut College,    Kean (2-0) will face host UMass-Dartmouth in the championship game at 2:00 p.m.