Men’s Basketball Suffers Setback in First CNE Clash

WENHAM, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team fell in the conference opener at Gordon on Wednesday night. Colin Mannke recorded his second double double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards. Russel Dolabany scored 10 points to go with two steals and two assists. Davis Lunn dished out two assists and grabbed two steals along with his eight points.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Ryan Brooks and Sean Quanico made early shots to give Gordon the 5-0 edge in the opening 90 seconds of the game. Dolabany's layup got the Leopards on the board just under three minutes in. Sean Racette finished a driving layup before a Dolabany steal led to Dylan Olson's three which made it a 9-7 game. The hosts scored the next seven points to create some breathing room five minutes into the contest.
• Wentworth went over seven minutes without a bucket and Gordon pushed the lead to 18-7 as the game approached the midway mark. The Fighting Scots stretched the lead to 24-7 before Dolabany's layup ended the Leopards' scoring drought. Olson knocked down a pair of free throws to get Wentworth into double digits, still trailing by fifteen. Racette's and-one cut the deficit to 12 points entering the final five minutes of the half. Gordon maintained their advantage to finish the half, taking a 40-26 lead into the break.
• Dolabany led the way with six points while Mike Yentin, Olson, and Racette all scored five points in the first half. Yentin grabbed a team-high four rebounds while Colin Mannke and Olson each had three boards.  
• Aiden Flaherty got on the board in the second half with a three-point play on the Leopards' first possession. Gordon answered with back-to-back makes to keep the lead at fifteen. The hosts stifled the Wentworth offense while building their lead to 24 points which they carried into the final six minutes. Mannke finished the game with his second double double of the year and the Fighting Scots won 88-67.

THE SERIES:

• Tonight was the 71st all-time meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth will take on Fisher in the Bear Cave Classic at Bridgewater State on Friday.

For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on "X," Facebook and Instagram.