Endicott uses Late Push to Defeat Men's Basketball

BEVERLY, Mass. – Junior Jalen Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.) scored 28 points to help the Endicott College men's basketball team defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 76-68, in Commonwealth Coast Conference play Monday night.

With the win the Gulls improve to 12-9 overall and 9-7 in CCC play while the Leopards fall to 9-14 (5-11).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

LEADING SCORERS:  Jack Schaake, 15; Jack Connell, 14; Trey Carrier, 13
LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Schaake, 13; Carrier, 10; Tyler Lennon, 7
ASSIST LEADERS:  Connell, 4

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Trailing 5-2, Wentworth used a 9-0 run, taking an 11-5 lead after senior Trey Carrier (Wilton, N.H.) converted a three-point play with 14:49 remaining in the half. Endicott scored the next seven points and led by one when senior Billy Arsenault (Lynnfield, Mass.) made a just over a minute later. A three-pointer from sophomore Sam Goy (Derry, N.H.) started a 7-0 spurt, which ended when junior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) hit a three, making it 18-12 with 12:06 left.
• The Gulls pulled ahead, 19-18 on a jumper from freshman Adam Lux (Arundel, Maine) less than four minutes later but freshman Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.) answered with a three and Carrier followed with two free throws to push Wentworth's lead to four. An Arsenault layup and a three from Echevarria gave the Gulls the lead back at 24-23 and Arsenault hit one of two free throws to give the hosts a two-point cushion. Wentworth tied the game on a layup from freshman Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) with 3:14 left, which was followed by a layup by Connell with 1:22, giving the Black & Gold a 27-25 lead. Junior Sam Swift (Arlington, Mass.) pushed the lead to five with 52 seconds left before Echevarria made a layup just before the half ended.
• The Leopards upped their lead to four when Goy made a layup with 15:13 left in the contest. Echevarria cut the lead to two with a layup and, after a turnover, Arsenault tied the game at 41-all before Echevarria hit a three to give the Gulls a 44-41 lead with 14:08 left. Connell countered with a pair of free throws to pull Wentworth with one and Carrier hit a layup with 12:54 left to give the Leopards a 45-44 lead.
• Echevarria hit two free throws to begin an 11-0 run and his jumper with 10:31 to play put Endicott ahead by 10, 55-45. Swift hit a three which was followed by four straight points from Schaake and a layup by Carrier as a 9-0 run brought Wentworth to within a point with 8:15 left. After Echevarria hit one of two free throws, Goy made a layup to tie the game at 56-all.
• The Gulls led, 64-61, after a senior Cameron Ray (Lowell, Mass.) jumper but Swift quickly answered with a three to tie the game at 64-all with 3:20 left. An Arsenault putback gave the hosts a 66-64 lead and with 1:24 left, Arsenault made it 68-64. A missed three gave Endicott the ball back and the Gulls went 6-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch.
• Two other Endicott players were in double figures with Arsenault scoring 20 and Ray adding 12.
• Schaake and Carrier each recorded double-doubles for the Black & Gold. Schaake scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Carrier scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season. Connell scored 14 and dished out four assists. Wentworth had a 51-31 rebounding advantage.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight was the 44th all-time meeting between the two teams. Endicott leads the all-time series, 34-10.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at Curry Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.

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