Westfield improved to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in the Mass. State Conference. Fitchburg is 4-9 and 1-2.
An impressive 22-0 scoring spree in the second half keyed the comeback victory. Fitchburg led 25-22 at halftime and expanded its lead to 11 points, 39-28, with 14:51 remaining. The Owls then ripped off 22 unanswered points over the next eight minutes to take a 50-39 lead.
A strong inside offensive attack and a tough interior defense sparked the scoring spree. Ogboin, who had 12 second-half points, put Westfield ahead for good, 40-39, with a lay-in at the 10:40 mark.
Holbrook, the conference’s leading rebounder, tallied 10 second-half points. Also playing well inside was 6-7, 240-pound senior center Rich Pyle with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Trailing 56-46, Fitchburg rallied to within three points, 58-55, with 18 seconds remaining. But Ogboin canned two free throws to seal the victory.
The Owls shot 57 percent during their second-half comeback after shooting 28 percent in the first half.
Senior forward Rashad Cope led Fitchburg with 16 points and nine rebounds, while senior forward Matt Costello contributed 12 points and eight boards.
Westfield State vs Fitchburg State College Men 1/24/04 3:00pm at Fitchburg, MA At Fitchburg, MA WESTFIELD STATE 60, FITCHBURG STATE COLLEGE MEN 55 WESTFIELD STATE (8-6 (2-2)) T.J. Baker 6-16 2-2 17; Ricky Ogboin 6-12 4-4 16; Dan Holbrook 6-11 0-0 12; Rich Pyle 5-6 0-0 10; Allen Murray 1-7 0-1 3; Ryan Goyette 1-4 0-0 2; Vaso Jaukovic 0-1 0-0 0; Joe Tomasini 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 25-60 6-7 60. FITCHBURG STATE COLLEGE MEN (4-9 (1-2)) Rashad Cope 7-17 2-2 16; Matthew Costello 6-12 0-1 12; Dan Largesse 3-7 0-2 8; Jay Pratt 2-2 0-0 6; Jim Prignano 2-8 1-2 6; Ja'Quaine Coe 1-9 0-0 3; Danny Koen 0-1 2-2 2; Patrick McCarthy 1-6 0-0 2; Jocelyn Velney 0-2 0-0 0; Vladimir Benoit 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 22-69 5-9 55. Westfield State............... 22 38 - 60 Fitchburg State College Men... 25 30 - 55 3-point goals-Westfield State 4-15 (T.J. Baker 3-6; Allen Murray 1-4; Joe Tomasini 0-3; Ricky Ogboin 0-2), Fitchburg State College Men 6-19 (Dan Largesse 2-6; Jay Pratt 2-2; Jim Prignano 1-3; Ja'Quaine Coe 1-7; Vladimir Benoit 0-1). Fouled out--Westfield State-None, Fitchburg State College Men-None. Rebounds-Westfield State 43 (Dan Holbrook 8), Fitchburg State College Men 41 (Rashad Cope 9). Assists-Westfield State 11 (T.J. Baker 6), Fitchburg State College Men 10 (Rashad Cope 4). Total fouls-Westfield State 11, Fitchburg State College Men 15. A-150