Men’s Basketball Claims 2026 MASCAC Championship over Westfield State

Worcester, MA- After an intense victory over the Framingham State Rams Friday, the Worcester State Men's Basketball team (14-12, 11-3) clinched their return to the MASCAC Championship game after a year hiatus. The Lancers headed to Westfield State in a bid to claim the title, with their last meeting in the Championship, at Brissette, going in Worcester's favor, the Lancers were looking to finally clinch the upset on the Owls home court. Since the 2020 Championship, the MASCAC Championship game has included either Westfield State or Worcester State,and the teams meeting in the finals three of the five past Championships, with the Owls leading the series in that stretch with three championships to two over Worcester State. 

Final

Worcester State: 73

Westfield State: 71

How it Happened:

Junior Daniel Wondie (Seattle, WA) would get the action started for the Lancers in the MASCAC Championship game with a three pointer just 17 seconds into the game. Senior Johnny Annan (Worcester, MA) would add a quick counter layup just under a minute in to get Worcester off and rolling. At just five minutes into the action the Lancers had pushed their lead to double digits. The Owls with renewed focus would begin to collect their defense and halfway through swing the game back to more even footing as each team traded baskets and control of the action. Senior Ayme Daguilh (West Boylston, MA) and sophomore Joe Okla (Worcester, MA) would go on a mid half surge to provide the Lancers slight breathing room as the final five minutes of the half wound down on the scoreboard. That slight cushion would come in useful as Westfield managed to again chip away at the lead and forced turnovers to charge into a five point lead of their own in the last minute of the opening half action.

The Owls would hold the first half advantage from the field, shooting 51% to Worcester's 46%, but Worcester held the significant edge behind the arc with a 50% shooting percentage to Westfield's 14%.

Westfield would grab the first back of the second but the Lancers came out of the break with a game plan and began to work their way around the court to reclaim the control of the game as junior Ethan Daleba (Dorchester, MA) and Wondie would find two quick baskets for Worcester. Westfield would attempt to push their lead advantage out, but Worcester would stay tight on the chances as Okla and Annan hit crucial baskets. A mid half surge by the Owls would see them claim their first double digit lead of the game, but after a timeout, the Blue and Gold redoubled their effort to reset the scene on the court. Daguilh and sophomore Jaydon Buckle (Windsor Locks, CT) would capitalize on the rising intensity to cut the Owls lead to just five with six minutes left in the action. As the final minutes counted down from the scoreboard Worcester put the full pressure on the Owls forcing turnovers and claiming fouls that gave them chances both in the field and at the line. Wondie would hit a center three of a perfect pass by Daguilh, and claim the foul for the four point play, to steal the Westfield momentum with three minutes remaining in the game, cutting their lead to just a single point. Another foul on Wondie put Worcester back in the lead seconds later. Westfield would find the basket to take back the lead and put tight pressure on the Lancers offense to hamper their immediate scoring chances. At just under a minute Annan would manage to battle through the pressure for a layup to take the lead and add pressure to the final seconds of regulation. A stripped turnover caused by Buckle with 29 seconds left would put the ball back in Worcester's hands while a foul on Okla would aim to provide breathing room for the Lancers. Westfield would look for the final second three, but the shot would fall short into Worcester hands with a foul that sent Buckle back to the line to seal the victory even with a late final second three and following technical made by Westfield to to close out the action as the Worcester State Lancers claimed the 2026 MASCAC Men's Basketball Championship 73-71. 

Wondie and Annan would each record 16 points in the outing while Okla would end the game with nine rebounds and be awarded the MASCAC Championship MVP honors. 

What's Next:

Worcester State (15-12, 11-3) will now await their NCAA First Round opponent who will be announced Monday at 1pm at NCAA.com.