MBB Falls 75-66 in Season Opener at Westfield State
November 15, 2009
WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior guard Derek Leab scored a career-high 24 points and junior guard Anthony Griffin added 19 points and seven rebounds to lead Westfield State to a 75-66 victory over Curry College its men’s basketball season opener on Sunday, Nov. 15.
The Owls jumped out to an early 10-2 lead and led 35-24 at halftime. Westfield led by 17 points, 49-32, with 5:05 remaining when Curry mounted a comeback.
The Colonels closed to within six points, 64-58 with 1:52 remaining, but the Owls survived the comeback with Leab and Griffing accounting for Westfield’s final 12 points.
Westfield out-rebounded Curry, 42-37. The Colonels shot 35 percent from the field, including 25 percent in the first half. The Owls, who shot 45 percent from the field, won by double digits despite being whistled for 27 fouls.
Also scoring in double figures for Westfield was junior guard Roy Jiminez with 10 points. Junior reserve forward Chris Jurkowski contributed six points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Philippe Jourdain led Curry with 19 points and A.J. Stephens came off the bench to score 15 points. Rodney Bennett had nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.