Maurice, Jones lead MCLA to rout of Westfield, will battle Salem Thursday

Westfield, MA- The fifth seeded MCLA Trailblazers were hot from behind the arc as they buried twelve three point shots as they routed the fourth seeded Westfield State Owls 89-67 this evening at the Woodward Center in the quarterfinal round of the 2014 MASCAC Men's basketball championship.  With the win, the Trailblazers (9-16) move on to face top seeded Salem State on Thursday.  Westfield falls to 15-11.

John Jones and Paul Maurice combined to score 46 points in leading MCLA.  Maurice canned six three point shots on the evening.  Ray Viches was also in double figures with 16 points. 

MCLA also avenged a regular season sweep from the Owls, as the Trailblazers lost both contests by double digits.  The Trailblazers were ice cold in those contests, including a 6-33 showing behind the arc just one week ago.  That wasn't the case tonight in Westfield.  MCLA was 12-25 from three point land and shot 53% from the floor.

Aaron West opened the scoring for Westfield, but it was all downhill from there.  Maurice put back a missed shot and then drilled his first three of the night.  When Viches connected on a nifty feed from Ruben DelRosario, it was 7-2 MCLA and the Owls were forced to take a quick timeout. 

After an Owl bucket stemmed the tide momentarily, a Viches triple started a 7-0 spurt to increase the early lead to 14-4.  MCLA would never look back. 

With 6:51 left til halftime, West's jumper moved Westfield to within 29-16, however once again MCLA answered.  This time it was Jones who stopped the spurt and when Viches knocked donw another three, the lead was 18.  MCLA would eventually lead 40-24 at halftime.

In the second half, the Owls would pull to within 11 points at 43-32 with 15:28 left forcing a Trailblazer timeout.  The stoppage worked as ripped off five straight culminated by yet another Maurice three pointer sending the Trailblazers on their way.  Westfield would get no closer than 12 the rest of the way, while the lead would balloon to 25 points late in the contest.

Maurice was 8-13 from the floor, but he was a torrid 6-9 from three point land for his 22 points.  Jones was 11-15 from the floor and collected 18 of his game high 24 points in the closing period.  Viches was 4-6 from beyond the arc to finish with his 16 points.   DelRosario would finish with a game best 6 assists.

Westfield was paced by Grant Cooper's 16 points.  Jesus Sanchez finished with 11 points. 

MCLA will move on to face top seeded Salem State on Thursday night in Salem.  The Trailblazers and Vikings split their season series with each team winning close games on the road.  Tip off is set for 7pm.