Men's Basketball Powers Past Endicott; Runs Win Streak to Five

BOSTON, Mass. – For the third consecutive game and 10th time this season, Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.) scored 20 or more points as the sophomore tallied a game-high 28 to lead three student-athletes in double figures, pacing the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team to its fifth straight win, an 81-67 triumph over Endicott in Commonwealth Coast Conference play.

RECORDS:
Endicott (12-9, 8-6 CCC)
Wentworth (13-8, 8-6 CCC)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

WENTWORTH LEADING SCORERS:  Jack Connell, 28; Tyler Stewart, 17; Sam Swift, 15
WENTWORTH LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Stewart, 17; Jack Schaake, 7; Sam Swift, 6; Sam Goy, 6
WENTWORTH ASSIST LEADERS:  Connell, 4; Stewart, 4; Goy, 4

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Senior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) and Connell put the hosts ahead, 4-0, with back-to-back baskets 1:46 into the contest. Wentworth held the lead until Endicott grabbed a 9-8 advantage on a graduate student Stephen Fama (Lynnfield, Mass.) three. On the ensuing possession, senior Sam Swift (Arlington, Mass.) knocked down a three, which started a 5-0 spurt and gave the Leopards a 13-9 lead.
• Outscoring the Leopards 19-9 over the next 5:21, Endicott took a 28-22 lead after a transition layup from freshman Jeff Hill (Lynn, Mass.). Wentworth responded with a 14-2 run, taking a 36-30 lead on a sophomore Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) layup with 4:36 remaining in the half and extended its lead to nine (48-39) with 44 seconds left after senior Conor Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) converted a three-point play. Wentworth shot 60 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of play.
• Wentworth opened the second half on an 8-1 run, extending its lead to 16 on a Swift three with 17:41 left. However, the Gulls closed the gap to seven with a 9-0 run, capped off by a jumper from Hill with 15:24 remaining. Connell answered with a three and, after a transition layup by Hill, made a jumper to make it a 61-51 game with 14:26 left. The Leopards extended their lead to 14 with 10:23 left on a layup by senior Thomas Hacker (Averill Park, N.Y.) and kept Endicott scoreless for a span of nearly six minutes before junior Drew Brown (Pelham, N.H.) hit a three with 8:46 left.
• The Gulls pulled within 10 with 4:42 left on a senior Jalen Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.) layup, however, Connell put down a three, which was followed by a dunk from Stewart and one of two free throws from junior Sam Goy (Derry, N.H.) to put the game out of reach.
• In addition to Connell's 28 points, Stewart recorded a double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds, while Swift added 15 and grabbed six rebounds. Wentworth had a 49-34 advantage on the boards, turning 13 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points.

SERIES NOTES:

• Wentworth snapped a 13-game series losing streak to Endicott, picking up a series win for the first time since February 16, 2016 and a first series win at home since January 14, 2016. Endicott leads all-time, 35-11.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at Nichols on Tuesday night.

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