Men's Basketball Falls to Western New England

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Wentworth Institute of Technology sophomore Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.) scored a game-high 17 points, however, a triple-double from sophomore Jake Harrison (South Boston, Mass.) helped lift the Western New England University men's basketball team to a 66-50 win over the Leopards in Commonwealth Coast Conference play Tuesday night.

Harrison finished the game with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Golden Bears remained undefeated in conference play.

RECORDS:

Wentworth (2-4, 1-2 CCC)
Western New England (6-2, 3-0 CCC)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

WENTWORTH LEADING SCORERS:  Jack Connell, 17; Nathaniel Smith, 8; Tyler Stewart, 7
WENTWORTH LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Nathan Brinkman, 7; Jack Schaake, 5
WENTWORTH ASSIST LEADERS:  Stewart, 4; Connell, 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After the teams traded baskets during an early, 31-second stretch, both teams combined for just six points over the next 3:45. With 14:14 left, Harrison made a layup with extended the lead to 9-4.
• A Connell jumper and one of two free throws from sophomore Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) cut the lead to 9-7 before the Golden Bears took a 14-7 lead after one of two free throws from Harrison with 12:30 left. Connell and senior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) each made baskets and senior Sam Swift (Arlington, Mass.) drained a three, tying the game at 14-all with 8:28 to play.
• Western New England used a 7-0 spurt to take a 21-14 lead but the Black & Gold pulled back within three after a Connell shot from behind the arc with 5:31 left. An 11-2 run by the hosts made it 32-20 before sophomore Nathaniel Smith (Beacon Falls, Conn.) made a three with 42 ticks left. The Golden Bears led, 35-25, at the break.
• The Leopards pulled within six (39-33) with 16:48 left after sophomore Niko Rosich (Chicago, Ill.) hit a three but six straight Western New England points pushed the lead back to double figures.
• A layup by Smith with 10:23 left brought Wentworth within eight but an 8-0 run by the hosts gave them a 16-point lead.
• Smith scored eight points off the bench while freshman Nathan Brinkman (Trumbull, Conn.) had a career-high seven rebounds.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight marked the 28th all-time meeting between the two teams Western New England has won the last two meetings and leads, 18-10.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth hosts New England College on Wednesday, December 14 at 2:00 p.m.

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