The Owls improved to 12-7 overall and 4-2 in the conference. MCLA is 2-16 and 0-6.
Westfield jumped out to a 16-2 lead in the first eight minutes of the game, but it only led by seven, 26-19, at halftime as it struggled offensively. MCLA stayed close at the intermission despite shooting only 21 percent (6-for-29) from the field.
Westfield cranked things up in the second half by outscoring the visitors, 56-42. The Owls took their biggest lead, 66-38, with six minutes remaining.
Twelve players got into the scoring column in the Owls’ balanced attack. Senior forward Mike Jurkowski (Belchertown) had a team-high 12 points and seven rebounds. Scoring 10 points apiece were junior guard Gavin Illangakoon (Ellington, CT) and junior forward Curtis Gadles (Pembroke).
Westfield senior center James Ogbunize (Springfield) played another solid game with nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots. Ogbunize leads the conference in rebounding and blocked shots.
MCLA senior guard Thad Broughton (Peabody) scored a game-high 18 points; he was the only Trailblazer scoring in double figures.