NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior guard Keenan Burke-Pitts (Auburn, Mass.) broke a 64-64 deadlock with a floating jumper as Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball defeated Salve Regina University, 70-67, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) action tonight in Newport.
Burke-Pitts and junior Adam Dombrowski (Dunstable, Mass.) helped the visitors outscore the Seahawks, 9-3, in the final three minutes. Burke-Pitts made it a four-point lead for the Leopards (68-64) with a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left. Seahawk sophomore William Smiley (Saunderstown, R.I.), who finished with his career-best 17 points, put a 3-pointer through the net with one tick left on the clock.
Wentworth (9-8; 4-2 TCCC) inbounded the ball to Dombrowski who was fouled by Smiley, his fifth personal, with one-tenth of a second left. The junior calmly sank both free throws.
Salve Regina (9-8; 3-3 TCCC) led at the half, 35-34, after a layup before the buzzer by Windell Hinkson (Groton, Conn.), who had taken a long pass from fellow senior Ryan Birrell (Hope, R.I.) following a steal from Joshua Fuhrmeister (Bonn, Germany).
Wentworth dominated on the boards (43-29) with its primary weapon, 6-foot-11 senior Sam Herrick (Duxbury, Mass.) tying a school record with 22 rebounds. Herrick also scored 14 points and blocked four shots. Dombrowski finished with a game-high 21 points while Burke-Pitts added 12 points.
Hinkson had 20 points for Salve Regina which also got 10 points and eight assists from Birrell.
Salve Regina travels to Henniker, N.H., on Saturday for its tilt with New England College (3 p.m.) while Wentworth visits Regis College.
-Story Courtesy of Salve Regina Sports Information-
