Stewart has Career Night in Men's Basketball's Season Opener

YONKERS, N.Y. – Sophomore Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) went for career highs in points (21) and rebounds (13) in the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team's season opener at Sarah Lawrence Saturday night. However, the Gryphons rallied from a 10-point deficit with just under 18 minutes remaining to take a 65-57 win over the Leopards.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

LEADING SCORERS:  Tyler Stewart, 21; Jack Schaake, 10
LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Stewart, 13; Schaake, 8; Jack Connell, 6
ASSIST LEADERS:  Niko Rosich, 3; Stewart, 2; Sam Swift, 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Stewart scored four of Wentworth's first six points as the Leopards raced out to a 6-0 lead. The Leopards bumped their lead to seven on a pair of occasions, including on a layup from senior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) with 14:18 left.
• Using an 8-0 run, Sarah Lawrence took a 13-12 lead when senior Chris Torres (Danbury, Conn.) hit a three off a turnover with 12:41 left. The Black & Gold responded with a 6-0 spurt, taking an 18-13 lead when Stewart converted a three-point play with just over 10 minutes left. However, the Gryphons uses a 7-0 run of their own and took a 8:41 lead on a sophomore Amos Gray (Ridgefield, Conn.) transition layup less than two minutes later.
• The teams traded leads with junior Lucas Murray (Bakersfield, Calif.) giving the hosts a 24-22 lead with 3:43 left, however, Wentworth took a pair of three-point leads – both when Stewart hit baskets – and led, 32-28, at the break after a freshman Robbie Siechen (Clay, N.Y.) three pointer with 53 seconds left.
• Wentworth opened the second half on a 9-2 run, taking its largest lead of the game (10) when a three pointer from sophomore Niko Rosich (Chicago, Ill.) made it 41-31. Sarah Lawrence went on a 12-4 run and trimmed the lead to two (45-43) on a freshman Braden Burman (San Diego, Calif.) jumper with 12:39 left.
• The Leopards pushed their lead to five, however, a 7-0 Gryphon run gave the hosts a 50-48 lead after a Murray layup with just over 10 minutes to play. Rosich countered with a basket and Stewart hit one of two free throws to give Wentworth a 53-50 lead with 8:30 left but Sarah Lawrence answered with an 11-0 run and took a 61-53 lead with 4:32 left. Wentworth got within five after a pair of senior Conor Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) free throws with 1:27 but would get no closer.
• Stewart was 9-for-18 from the floor and also had two assists and two blocks. Schaake finished with 10 points (on 5-for-7 shooting) and grabbed eight rebounds.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth hosts Wheaton on Wednesday, November 16, at 6:00 p.m.

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