Men's Basketball Runs Win Streak to Three; Finishes Cruzin' Classic 2-0

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Sophomore Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) connected on 7-of-8 shots from the floor, en route to a game-high 21 points as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team completed the Cruzin' Classic with a 2-0 record and won their third straight game, defeating Wartburg, 79-69.

RECORDS:

Wentworth (5-4)
Wartburg (4-7)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

WENTWORTH LEADING SCORERS:  Tyler Stewart, 21; Jack Connell, 18; Jack Schaake, 10
WENTWORTH LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Schaake, 7; Stewart, 6; Connell, 4
WENTWORTH ASSIST LEADERS:  Connell, 3; Sam Swift, 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After Wartburg opened the game on a three pointer from junior Marshaun Williams (Chicago, Ill.), Wentworth went on a 13-1 run, taking a 13-4 lead after a three pointer from sophomore Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.). The Knights pulled back within a pair after a layup from freshman Austin Bienemann (Plainfield, Iowa) with 10:42 left and the Leopards extended their lead to five on a senior Thomas Hacker (Averill Park, N.Y.) three-point play 38 seconds later.
• Wartburg outscored the Black & Gold by a 14-7 margin over the next 4:33 and took a 29-25 lead after a senior Cody Hicks (Cedar Falls, Iowa) layup. However, a layup from Connell and a three from senior Conor Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) put the Black & Gold ahead, 30-29, with 2:04 left in the half. Rubenskas hit two free throws to make it 32-29 before Bienemann's layup with 41 seconds left closed the gap to one (32-31) to end the half.
• Senior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) made a layup and Connell drained a three, pushing the Wentworth lead to five, 2:10 into the second half. Wartburg countered with seven straight points and took a 38-37 lead with 15:45 left after a sophomore Donovan Smith (Keene, Texas) layup. Sophomore Nathaniel Smith (Beacon Falls, Conn.) followed by knocking down a three to give the Black & Gold a 40-38 lead.
• After Wartburg tied the game at 40-all, the Leopards outscored the Knights 16-11 over the next 6:45 and took a 56-49 lead on two free throws from Stewart. The Black & Gold pushed the lead to 10 on two occasions, including when Connell hit a three with 3:26 left to make it 69-59. Five straight Wartburg points cut the lead in half, however, senior Sam Swift (Arlington, Mass.) made it 72-64 with 1:57 left when he hit a shot from behind the arc. On the ensuing possession, Wartburg missed a three and freshman Nathan Brinkman (Trumbull, Conn.) hit one of two free throws. After a missed basket, Schaake hit two free throws and put down a dunk with 26 seconds left, giving Wentworth its largest lead of the day, 77-64, with 26 ticks remaining.
• In addition to his 21 points, Stewart grabbed six rebounds, had a pair of steals, and blocked two shots. Connell finished with 18 points, grabbed four rebounds, and had three assists, while Schaake scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had two assists. The Black & Gold shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth jumps back into Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Tuesday, January 3, with a 7:30 p.m. game against Suffolk.

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