NASHUA, N.H. – Trailing by seven points with 3:54 remaining in the first half, the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team used a 26-4 run over the next 13:46 and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 71-59 win over Rivier in non-conference action Tuesday night.
With the win the Leopards improve to 7-15 on the season while the Raiders fall to 1-21. This was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
After Rivier raced out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, thanks to five points from junior Nate Hale (Nashua, N.H.), Wentworth used a 14-2 run over the next 7:16 to take a 14-7 lead after senor Zach Bergeon (Litchfield, N.H.) drained a three pointer. After sophomore Tyler Bradenese (Billerica, Mass.) hit a three to knock the lead down to four, sophomore Tyler Lennon (Atkinson, N.H.) countered with a trifecta of his own to give the Leopards a 17-10 lead with 10:43 remaining.
Rivier used an 8-0 run, taking an 18-17 lead after a junior Keith Poitier (East Hartford, Conn.) three pointer. Sophomore Gavin Keough (Dunstable, Mass.) gave the Black & Gold the lead back (19-18), however, the Raiders used another 8-0 run to take a 26-19 lead after a layup from sophomore Tarik Rivers (Stamford, Conn.). Wentworth began its run by scoring the final three points of the half, coming on a free throw from Bergeon and a jumper from Lennon to make it 26-22 at the break.
One of two free throws from junior Stephen Azums (Hyde Park, Mass.) and a three from Keough evened the score at 26-all. Senior Isaiah Marks (Brooklyn, N.Y.) gave the hosts the lead back on the next possession, however, four points from Azums and two from Keough gave Wentworth the lead for good (32-28) with 16:53 remaining. Rivers followed with a jumper but the Leopards scored the next 13 points and took a 45-30 lead after a sophomore Trey Carrier (Wilton, N.H.) layup.
Rivier whittled the lead down to as few as 10 with 6:12 remaining but that would be as close as the Raiders would come as a three-point play from junior Matt Vartanian (Salem, N.H.) capped off a 7-0 run which gave Wentworth its largest lead of the game (58-41) with 4:54 remaining. Wentworth, which shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the second half, outscored the Raiders, 49-33, over the final 20:00.
Azums recorded his 11th double-double of the season, scoring 21 points (on 8-of-10 shooting) and grabbing 14 rebounds. Keough scored 16 points, while sophomore Kyle Henseler (Coventry, R.I.) added 12 points and dished out four assists. Wentworth had a 47-38 rebounding advantage.
Hale led Rivier with 19 points to go along with six rebounds.
Wentworth hosts Curry on Saturday.
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