DANBURY, Conn. - Senior guard Matthew Turner (Trumbull, Conn.) erupted for a game-high 29 points which included a scorching 67 percent (6-of-9) from three-point range to lead the Western Connecticut State University men's basketball squad to a 66-57 victory over visiting non-conference foe Manhattanville College on Tuesday night at Feldman Arena. He also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.

With the win, WestConn improved to 6-1 overall while the Valiants dropped to 3-4. 

Rookie guard Corey Walters (Hamden, Conn.) chipped in with nine points off the bench for WestConn, while junior forward Solomon Silas (Danbury, Conn.) provided a strong inside force with five points and five boards. 

Junior guard Tommy Lotito (Staten Island, N.Y.) paced Manhattanville with 16 points and dished out a game-high seven assists. Graduate student Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J.) and senior Chris Maestre (Bronx, N.Y.) added eights points apiece. 

As a team, WestConn finished shooting a stellar 53 percent (8-of-15) from beyond the arc, while holding the visitors to a 29 percent (7-of-24) mark. The hosts also connected on 88 percent (14-of-16) free throw attempts in the second half.

The Valiants jumped out to an early 19-12 advantage before WestConn reeled off a late first half run. Freshman guard Keeshawn Jones (Middletown, N.Y.) drove down the lane for a layup, giving WestConn a 29-28 lead shortly before the break.

The lead changed hands on several occasions throughout the opening 10 minutes of the second stanza. However, the hosts began to pull away late in the contest on back-to-back trifectas from Turner and senior guard Wes Nelson (Queens, N.Y.). Turner then sank a pair from the stripe with 2:30 left, stretching the gap to 60-52. They would cruise the rest of the way.

WestConn returns to action for their Little East Conference opener when they host Plymouth State on Saturday at 3 p.m.