QUINCY, Mass. - Jaylen Owens (Johns Creek, Ga.) scored a career-high 29 points to help lead the Eastern Nazarene men's basketball team to its sixth straight win with a 71-61 victory over Wentworth Saturday afternoon at the Lahue Physical Education Center.
With the win the Lions improve to 16-4 overall and 10-4 in Commonwealth Coast Conference action while the Leopards slip to 10-11 (7-7).
Christian Lynch (Alpharetta, Ga.) chipped in with eight points and three assists off the bench for the Lions while Seniors Brian Hard (Weymouth, Mass.) and Lequan Gomes (Fairfield, Calif.) each netted seven points in the win. Eric Lynch (Alpharetta, Ga.) paced Eastern Nazarene on the glass with seven boards while Alex Jarman (Portsmouth, R.I.) recorded six points and six rebounds.
The Lions surged out to a 10-2 lead 4:48 after the opening tip, capped off by a trey by Justin Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.). The hosts stretched their advantage to nine points with 11:17 left to play on a lay-in by Hard, 17-8.
Wentworth battled back to cut the deficit to two with 7:32 remaining, 17-15, on a layup by Ian Therriault (Auburn, Maine) and tied the game at 19-19 on a pair of free throws by John-Michael Fragnoli (Scotia, N.Y.) with 5:24 to go in the half.
Eastern Nazarene claimed a one-point edge with 14 seconds left to play as Owens buried a three-pointer, 26-25.
The Lions opened the second half on a 12-2 run en route to establishing an 11-point advantage, 40-29. Wentworth trimmed the margin to five points with 4:43 remaining in the contest as Nico Donato (Glastobury, Conn.) tossed in a layup, 52-47.
Eastern Nazarene restored its lead to double-figures with two minutes to go in the game as Eric Lynch banked in a lay-up to make it a 59-49 contest.
Both squads tallied 12 points in the final two minutes as the Lions picked up their sixth-consecutive victory.
Freshman Jherson Colon (Boston, Mass.) led the visitors with 19 points while Donato finished with 14.
Both teams are back in action on Wednesday night as Eastern Nazarene is at Salve Regina and Wentworth hosts Western New England.
(Portions of this recap courtesy of Eastern Nazarene sports information)
March 3, 2014
Colon Named CCC Rookie of the Week
February 27, 2014
Men's Basketball Falls to Gordon in CCC Semifinals
February 25, 2014
Mayo, Colon Named All-Commonwealth Coast Conference
February 25, 2014
Men's Basketball Pulls off Upset at Eastern Nazarene
February 22, 2014
Men's Basketball Edged in Regular-Season Finale
February 22, 2014
CCC Men's Basketball Tournament Pairings Set
February 19, 2014
Strong Second Half Powers Endicott Past Men's Basketball
February 15, 2014
Men's Basketball Edged at Roger Williams
February 12, 2014
Donato's Buzzer Beater Lifts Men's Basketball Past Western New England
February 8, 2014
Men's Basketball Suffers Setback at Eastern Nazarene
February 4, 2014
Men's Basketball Cruises to 10th Win of the Season
February 1, 2014
Second Half Run Pushes Gordon Past Men's Basketball
January 29, 2014
Men's Basketball Sees Three-Game Skid Come to and End
January 23, 2014
Endicott Works Overtime to Defeat Men's Basketball
January 20, 2014
Colon Repeats as Rookie of the Week
January 18, 2014
Men's Basketball Falls at Nichols
January 15, 2014
Men's Basketball Holds on For Win
January 13, 2014
Colon Earns CCC Rookie of the Week Honors
January 11, 2014
Men's Basketball Rallies Past Roger Williams
January 9, 2014
Men's Basketball Win Streak Halted by Eastern Nazarene
January 7, 2014
Long-Range Shooting Helps Men's Basketball Win Third Straight
January 4, 2014
Strong Defensive Effort Lifts Men's Basketball to Win at Gordon
December 31, 2013
Men's Basketball Rolls to Win Over Maine-Fort Kent
December 30, 2013
Vassar Fends Off Men's Basketball
December 9, 2013
Colon Earns CCC Rookie Rookie of the Week Honors
December 7, 2013
Balanced Attack Paces Men's Basketball to Win over Curry
December 4, 2013
Men's Basketball Falls in Conference Opener
November 26, 2013
Men's Basketball Pulls Away in Second Half
November 25, 2013
Turner Named CCC Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week
November 23, 2013
Tufts Rallies in Second Half to Defeat Men's Basketball
November 21, 2013
Clark Overtakes Men's Basketball in Second Half
November 16, 2013
Late Run Pushes Framingham State Past Men's Basketball
November 15, 2013
Men's Basketball Opens Season With a Win
November 15, 2013
Men's Basketball Picked to Finish Seventh in CCC Pre-Season Poll
October 19, 2013
Five Inducted Into Athletic Hall of Fame
July 23, 2013
Arlen Galloway Named Head Men's Basketball Coach