Trailblazers go deep as they return to play with key 79-64 MASCAC win over Westfield State

Westfield, MA-- The MCLA men's basketball team returned to play after a lengthy 36 day layoff as they traveled to face Westfield State.  The Trailblazers came out firing and never looked back as they earned a key 79-64 win over the Owls.  Noah Yearsley scored a season best 26 points and MCLA was great from three point range as they went 13-28 from beyond the arc.

MCLA (6-6 overall) earns their first win of the conference slate as they're now 1-0.  The Owls drop to 12-4 overall and sit at 2-2 in the conference.

The Trailblazers never trailed in this one as they held Westfield without a basket for the opening four minutes to open up a quick 8-1 lead.  MCLA's Jojo Garcia drilled a three pointer and when Bright Afful made a layup, the lead was 15-4.  MCLA would settle on a 34-24 halftime lead as Garcia and Yearsley combined for 25 points.

In the second half, Westfield would make a run fueled by a Brendon Hamilton dunk to cut the lead to 47-40, but MCLA's Hayden Bird would complete a four point play to extend the lead back to double digits at 51-40, still with eleven minutes to play.   That play started an 8-0 spurt that gave MCLA a commanding 55-40 lead.

Westfield would get no closer than 13 the rest of the way as MCLA answered every challenge to earn the win.

Yearsley led all scorers with his 26 point night.  He was 9-16 from the floor but more importantly was 5-8 from three point land.  He added 10 rebounds to complete the double double.  Bird heated up in the second half to end with 16 points.  He made five three pointers in the win and just missed a double double of his own with 9 rebounds.  Garcia provided a great spark off the bench with a season high 15 points on 5-7 shooting.  Bright Afful ended with 11 points and 7 rebounds.

MCLA shot 43% from the floor and 46% from three point range.

Westfield was paced by Kumar Brown's 14 point effort on 6-9 shooting.  Hamilton added 8 points but a game best 14 boards in defeat.

The Owls were set back by a 35% shooting night and just 9-17 from the FT line.

MCLA is back in action Wednesday night when they host MASCAC front runner Salem State at 7:30pm.

Release Courtesy of Jeff Puleri
MCLA Sports Information
Athletics.mcla.edu

@MCLAAthletics