February 8, 2005
Salem State 84 Š Westfield State 68
WESTFIELD Š Senior 6-9 center Ifesinachi Anosike (Staten Island, N.Y.) posted a rare triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 11 blocked shots to power Salem State to an 84-68 Mass. State Conference victory over Westfield State on Feb. 8.
The Vikings improved to 18-3 overall and 7-1 in the conference. Westfield is 9-10 and 5-4.
Westfield rallied from a 22-12 deficit to take a 34-32 halftime lead. Westfield junior reserve forward James Obunize (Springfield) sparked the comeback with 11 points and seven rebounds in the first half. However, Ogbunize only had one point and one rebound in the second half.
The Vikings quickly sized control early in the second half, sparked by their tall front line of Anosike and 6-8 sophomore center Tyler Lang (Franklin), along with senior guard Allen Reid (Southbridge).
When Anosike wasnÕt swatting shots he was altering them, as Westfield shot 35 percent from the field (27-for-77). On the offensive end, Anosike was 5-for-11 from the field but he canned 13 of 15 free throws to lead all players in scoring.
Reid scored 20 points, including 15 in the second half, while Lang contributed nine points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
Sophomore guard Ricky Ogboin (Brighton) led the Owls with 17 points. Junior forward Mike Jurkowski (Belchertown) posted another double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds; he also had four steals and four assists.