By Ryan Creed
Assistant Sports Editor
The Framingham State Men’s Basketball team fell just short in exciting MASCAC action Tuesday night, as they lost to the Westfield State Owls 75-74 in overtime at the FSU Athletic Center.
WSU was led in the game by sophomore Matt Devine – a former high school player of current Rams’ head coach Paul Wholey – as he scored 22 points while adding 10 rebounds.
Framingham State was led by captain Royce Veal, who contributed a game-high 26 points. Teammate Tyrone Figueroa added 17.
The Rams jumped out to an early 12-6 lead in the first half when Figueroa scored his first two points of the game after snatching the ball from a Westfield State player. The Owls would storm back, however, as they wound up taking the lead with just over seven minutes remaining the first half, 18-16. The two Massachusetts rivals left each other no breathing room before the first half ended, as they went into the locker room knotted at 28 apiece.
A quick three-pointer out of the gate by point guard Anthony Pappagallo gave the Rams a 31-30 lead – their first lead since 8:34 mark in the first half. Figueroa would extend the Rams’ lead to 42-34, as he scored eight straight points for FSU in a span of just over a minute.
Framingham State would retain their lead for much of the second half until a layup by Devine put the Owls back on top 58-57 with five minutes and change left until the end of regulation. Westfield State extended their lead to five with three minutes left, but free throws by Veal and a layup by Adeyemi Ajao erased the WSU lead and tied the game back up at 65.
Devine would answer however, as he nailed a jumper to put the Owls back ahead. Veal quickly answered with a layup with a minute left, and that ended the scoring in regulation at a draw, 67-67.
Veal carried FSU in overtime – as he contributed all seven points the Rams mustered in the extra period. His effort would fall just short, as Westfield State wound up on top 75-74.
The loss dropped the Rams to fifth in the MASCAC standings, as the Owls jolt ahead of FSU for fourth place.
The Rams will look to rebound from the tough loss on Saturday when they host Babson in the final regular season game before MASCAC postseason tournament play begins.
