January 27, 2005
Westfield State 71 Š Framingham State 65
WESTFIELD Š Junior forward Mike Jurkowski (Belchertown) poured in a career-high 30 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds to power Westfield State to a 71-65 victory over Framingham State in a key Mass. State Conference game on Jan. 27.
Framingham, which entered the game in first place, moved to 4-2 in the conference and 8-7 overall. The Owls are now 3-2 and 7-8.
The 6-4 Jurkowski was nearly unstoppable in the first half as he erupted for 20 points. He shot 10-for-13 from the field to stake the Owls to a 30-26 lead at the intermission. For the game he was 14-for-21 from the floor and also added three assists and three steals.
The Rams did take a short-lived 52-50 lead, but Westfield went ahead 61-54 with 2:40 remaining. Framingham closed to with two, 67-65, on a driving layup by senior Paul Tanglis (North Andover) with 59.7 seconds remaining.
Westfield sophomore reserve guard Chad Misiuk (Adams/Hoosac Valley) then made a huge basket Š his only two points - just before the shot clock expired. He drove between two defenders and banked in a layup for a 69-65 Owl lead with 24 seconds remaining.
The Owls secured the big victory when freshman guard Steve Martins (Westfield/Westfield Voke) stole the ball, was fouled and sank two free throws with seven seconds remaining.
Martins scored 11 points and registered four steals. Senior forward Vaso Jaukovic (Serbia/Montenegro) finished with 12 points, all in the second half, including six straight free throws. Sparked by JurkowskiÕs spectacular game, the Owls shot 55 percent from the field.
Sophomore forward Derek Wigman (Pembroke/Silver Lake) led FraminghamÕs balanced attack with 14 points. Senior forward Jared Clark (Ipswich/St. JohnÕs Prep) had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Junior center Joseph Faradie (Easton/Oliver Ames) finished with 13 points and Tanglis tallied 10.