SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Led by sophomore Cesar Fulcar's (Watertown, Mass.) 14 points, four members of the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team scored in double figures as the Leopards snapped a two-game losing streak with a 75-66 win over Western New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference action.
The Leopards improve to 5-6 overall and 3-1 in CCC play while the Golden Bears dropped their second straight game to sit at 3-7 (1-3).
Wentworth jumped out to an 8-3 lead, thanks to three-point shots from Fulcar and classmate Ben Kizel (Short Hills, N.J.). Western New England used an 11-0 run, capped off by a three pointer from senior Don Stephens (West Palm Beach, Fla.) to take a 14-8 lead with 12:45 left.
Consecutive three pointers from junior Dan DeVaux (Wethersfield, Conn.) tied the game and a trifecta from sophomore Jason Ganley (Northbridge, Mass.) put the Leopards on top, 17-14, and after Western New England would tie the game at 17-all, the Black & Gold used a 7-0 run to take a 24-17 lead. The Golden Bears would cut the lead to 25-21 after scoring their first field goal in a four and a half minute span, however Wentworth closed out the half on an 8-0 run and took a 33-21 lead into the locker room. The leopards shot 50 percent from the floor in the opening half while holding Western New England to 31 percent.
Sophomore Jovanny Lamisere (Watertown, Mass.) and Fulcar pushed Wentworth's lead to 16 within the first minute of the second half and the Leopards would hold a 16-point lead on two other occasions, including with just under 16 minutes left.
An 8-2 run, fueled by two three pointers from junior Daniel Silva (Seekonk, Mass.), brought the hosts within 10 with 14:14 left, and, after Fulcar hit one of two free throws, Silva scored to cut the lead to nine. After Western New England came within seven, Ganley buried a three to make it a 10-point game with 9:07 left.
Western New England pulled within five twice, however each time the Leopards extended the lead, including using a 7-0 run to make it 67-55 with just under four minutes left. Despite the Leopards being held without a field goal for the final 3:56, Western New England would get no closer than five with 22 seconds left before Fulcar hit four straight from the free throw line to seal the win.
Ganley added 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Kizel and senior Ian Therriault (Auburn, Maine) scored 10 points apiece. Therriault also had seven rebounds.
Four players scored in double figures for Western New England with junior Mike Gelineau's (Waltham, Mass.) 19 leading the way. Freshman Mikey Pettway (Bridgeport, Conn.) scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Silva scored a dozen points, and senior Zack Askew (Middletown, Conn.) had 10.
Both teams return to the court Thursday. Wentworth hosts Eastern Nazarene while Western New England is at Nichols.