BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman Mikey Pettway (Bridgeport, Conn.) hit one of two free throws with 1:09 remaining to snap a 60-all tie and help lift the Western New England men's basketball team defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 66-60, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference contest played at Tansey Gymnasium.
With the win the Golden Bears snap a four-game losing streak and improve to 7-13 (5-8 CCC) while the Leopards see their two-game win streak come to an end and sit at 11-9 (9-4).
The contest featured 10 ties and 17 lead changes, including nine times where the lead changed hands in the first half. Wentworth took a 6-2 lead after senior Kyle Romich (Groton, Mass.) converted a three-point play and sophomore Jason Ganley (Northbridge, Mass.) hit one of two free throws. Western New England received seven straight points from freshman Tyler Johnson (Vernon, Conn.) to give the visitors a 9-6 lead, a lead which would grow to four on a junior Mike Gelineau (Waltham, Mass.) three with 11:29 left.
Wentworth took a two-point lead on a pair of sophomore Cesar Fulcar (Watertown, Mass.) free throws, and, after falling behind by one, led by a pair when Romich hit a trifecta. A three-point play from senior Nathaniel Martin (Orange, Mass.) put Western New England ahead by three with 3:59 left and the score would be tied three more times, including when Romich made a layup with 11 seconds left to knot the score at 32-all.
The Golden bears held a four-point lead on a pair of occasions, including when senior Don Stephens (West Palm Beach, Fla.) hit a three with 14:25 left. The Leopards answered with a 14-2 run and took an eight-point lead with 10:09 left when Fulcar drained a transition three from the left side. Baskets by Zack Askew (Middletown, Conn.) and Pettway cut the lead in half and started a 13-2 run, which was capped off by a Pettway layup, giving Western New England a 58-55 lead with 3:08 left.
Ganley scored five straight points to put the hosts on top, 60-58, but a pair of junior Daniel Silva (Seekonk, Mass.) free throws would even the score at 60-all with 1:47 left. After Wentworth missed a shot on the next possession, Pettway was fouled on a drive to the basket and hit one of two to give Western New England the lead for good.
After a Leopard miss, Pettway would hit one of two from the line to extend the lead to a pair, and, after a consecutive Wentworth turnovers, Askew and Gelineau hit two free throws apiece to seal the win.
Three players scored in double figures for the Golden Bears as Gelineau had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals, Pettway had 12 points and four assists, and Stephens had 11 points.
Romich led all scorers with 20 with Ganley adding 16 points and seven rebounds. Wentworth had a 40-35 rebounding edge, however was held to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half.
Both teams continue CCC play Saturday as Wentworth is at Eastern Nazarene and Western New England hosts Nichols.
