BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Eric Demers (Acushnet, Mass.) and junior Noah Szilagyi (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) paced four Gordon College players in double figures as each scored 13 points to pace the Fighting Scots to a 77-66 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Tuesday night.
With the win the Fighting Scots improve to 7-5 (3-2) while the Leopards fall to 8-4 (3-2).
Gordon opened the game scoring five of the first six points, thanks to a three from Demers and a jumper from freshman Matt Valles (Mattapoisett, Mass.). Wentworth came back to tie the contest as sophomore Stephen Azums (Hyde Park, Mass.) scored four straight points. The Fighting Scots pushed their lead to five two more time before a 9-2 Wentworth run gave the hosts their first lead (16-14) after senior Jason Ganley (Northbridge, Mass.) hit a jumper in the lane.
The Leopards took a 21-20 lead on a three pointer from senior Ben Kizel (Short Hills, N.J.) midway through the half, however, Gordon outscored the Black & Gold 21-6 over the remainder of the half and led, 41-27, at the break. In the first half the Fighting Scots shot 46.9 percent from the floor and held Wentworth to 32.3 percent shooting.
Gordon opened the second half on a 15-4 run and took its largest lead, 56-31, after a three pointer from junior Jake Haar (Huntington Beach, Calif.). Wentworth countered with a 14-4 run and cut the lead to 15 (60-45) on a transition three from sophomore Zach Bergon (Litchfield, N.H.).
A layup from freshman Josh Crutchfield (Ladera Ranch, Calf.) stopped the run, however, the Leopards answered with a 14-2 run and closed the gap to five (64-59) with 5:20 left. During the run, Ganley had nine points. Demers ended the run with consecutive layups which made it 68-59 with 4:02 remaining. Ganley hit two free throws to make it 68-61 with just under three minutes remaining, however, Gordon pulled away by using a 7-0 run, with five of those points coming from senior Jake Hart (Allendale, N.J.).
In addition to Demers and Szilagyi, sophomore Garrison Duvivier (Brockton, Mass.) had 12 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three steals while Hart finished with 12 points.
Ganley led all scorers with 25 points as he connected on 10-of-15 shots. Azums added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Leopards, who had a 41-35 rebounding advantage.
Wentworth is at the University of New England on Thursday night.
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