Westfield improved to 10-4 overall and 1-1 in the Mass. State Conference heading into its key game on Tuesday at Salem State. Worcester drops to 5-8 and 0-2.

Westfield led the entire game, except for the opening four minutes when Worcester jumped to a 6-1 lead.

The Owls led 39-32 at halftime. Their biggest lead was 11 points early in the second half. Worcester State closed to within four points, 62-58, with 9:05 remaining on a 3-point basket by Brandon Fortes.

Westfield scored the next six points to take a 10-point lead, 68-58, at the 5:49 mark. Worcester closed to within six points several times in the closing minutes, but Westfield made five free throws in the final two minutes to protect its lead.

In addition to Westfield’s balanced scoring, another reason the Lancers were unable to overtake the Owls is because they committed 29 turnovers.

Westfield sophomore forward Dave Jaehnig (Quincy) scored 13 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Scoring 12 points apiece were Gavin Illangakoon (Ellington, CT), Andrew Deffer (Beverly) and Ryan Mauer (Pittsfield).

Worcester freshman forward Patrick Hamilton (Templeton) scored a game-high 21 points; he kept the game close by canning five of six 3-point attempts. Senior forward Mark Retallic (Oxford) had 14 points and eight rebounds and senior forward Winfred Rembert (New Haven, CT) added 12 points and eight rebounds.