Late Surge Lifts Essex Men Past Westchester, 87–79

Newark, NJ- The Essex County College men's basketball team put together a dominant second-half performance to erase a halftime deficit and defeat Westchester Community College, 87–79, on Tuesday night.

After trailing 45–26 at the break, the Wolverines flipped the script with a 61-point second half, outscoring Westchester by 27 over the final 20 minutes to secure the comeback victory.

Essex's turnaround was fueled by a balanced offensive attack and relentless defensive pressure. Carl Matala came off the bench and delivered a standout performance, pouring in a game-high 27 points on an efficient 10-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three-point range. His scoring burst helped ignite the rally and swing momentum firmly in Essex's favor.

The starting lineup also played a key role in the comeback. Jason Martinez finished with 20 points, knocking down six field goals and adding two three-pointers, while Gabriel Morales contributed 16 points and a pair of threes. In the paint, Rodney Willis Jr. was a force on the glass, recording a double-double with 16 rebounds to go along with 8 points and 4 assists, giving Essex multiple second-chance opportunities.

Essex shot 46.7 percent from the field and connected on 12 three-pointers, using perimeter shooting and improved ball movement to break down Westchester's defense in the second half. Defensively, the Wolverines forced turnovers and limited Westchester's scoring rhythm after halftime, holding them to just 34 points.

With the win, Essex showed its resilience and depth, turning a difficult first half into one of its most impressive finishes of the season. The Wolverines will look to build on the momentum as they continue conference play.

The next game will be played home Thursday against Monroe University at 6pm.