PSU won its third straight to improve to 12-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play, while WestConn dropped to 9-7 overall and 2-5 in the LEC. The Panthers complete the season sweep over the defending conference champs, having defeated the Colonials, 70-52, on Dec. 3 in Danbury, Conn.
Walcek drained 10-of-17 shots from the field for his team-high 22 points, his ninth straight game scoring in double figures. Boutilier connected on 6-of-11 from the floor to finish with 18 points. Boutilier also increased his career point total to 979, and is on the verge of becoming the 21st man in school history to score 1000 points.
Senior Mark Dunham (Salem, N.H.) also contributed 15 points for PSU, hitting 5-of-10 from three-point range.
WCSU junior Jamaal Robinson (Meriden, Conn.) led all players Saturday with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Greg Cole (Terrytown, N.Y.) added 12 points, and sophomore Kyle Norfleet (Waterbury, Conn.) chipped in with 10.
PSU scored 12 unanswered points midway through the first half to take control of the game, turning a one-point deficit into an 11-point advantage (24-13). The visitors stayed in the game but trailed by 15 points (40-25) at the intermission.
The Panthers maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the second half, leading by as much as 24 points (64-40) midway through the half before coasting home the rest of the way.
Western shot only 41 percent for the game but stayed in it by outrebounding the Panthers, 43-29.
Both teams face their archrivals on the road on Tuesday, PSU visiting Keene State (7:30 p.m.) and WestConn traveling to Eastern Connecticut (7:30 p.m.)
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