Paul leads Trailblazers past Owls 71-57, snap eight game slide

North Adams, MA- The MCLA men's basketball team got 21 points from Khalil Paul as the Trailblazers snapped an eight game slide by defeating the Westfield State Owls 71-57 in MASCAC action tonight in the Amsler Campus Center Gym.  The win marks the first for MCLA in conference play as they are now 5-15 overall and 1-7 in the MASCAC.  The Owls drop to 8-12 on the season and sit at 3-5 in the conference.

MCLA pulled away from the Owls in the second half behind Paul as the senior scored 15 points after the break.  With the score at 38-34 in favor of MCLA, the home team went on a 7-0 run capped off by a Paul triple to make it 45-34 with 16:11 left.  Westfield would cut the deficit to eight points at 51-43, but once again the Trailblazers had the answer.

This time, an 11-0 spurt moved them out to their largest lead of the night at 62-43.  Paul started the surge witn consecutive three pointers.  Adam Conquest knocked down a fade away jumper and when Careem Kirksey hit another triple, MCLA had command.  The Owls would get no closer than ten the rest of the way.

The first half saw the Owls jump out to an early 9-5 lead but MCLA quickly responded with a 9-0 spurt to grab the lead at 14-9.  The Owls eventually knotted things up at 14-14 with 12:36 remaining in the half.  After matching baskets, the Trailblazers then embarked on another 8-0 spurt making it 24-17 in favor of the home team.

MCLA eventually led by ten at 27-17 before the Owls rallied using a 10-2 run to close to within two at 29-27.  The Trailblazers held the lead and went into halftime up 35-30.  MCLA shot a sizzling 58% in the half and held the Owls to just 32% shooting.  Each team struggled holding onto the ball as MCLA committed 11 turnovers and the Owls had 10 of their own.

Paul went 7-11 from the floor including a 3-5 showing from beyond the arc.  Conquest had his best outing of the season notching 13 points and 7 rebounds.  Dakari Hannah Wornum only scored two points but pulled down a game high 10 boards.  His work helped the Trailblazers maintain a 45-36 edge off the glass.

The Owls wer placed by Jesus Sanchez' team best 12 points including a trio of three pointers.  Brian Foley came off the bench to score 10 points for Westfield.

The MCLA defense held the Owls to just 33% shooting from the floor and forced them into 17 turnovers.  The Trailblazers ended with 18 giveaways of their own.

Neither team was efficient at the line as the Owls converted just 10-20 (50%) while MCLA was 9-17 (53%).

The Trailblazers are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Salem State for a 3pm tilt.