Late Run Lifts Suffolk to CNE Opening Round Win Over Men's Basketball

BOSTON, Mass. – A 19-4 run over a span of 7:51 snapped a 62-all tie and helped lift the Suffolk University men's basketball team to an 87-78 opening-round win in the 2025 Conference of New England Men's Basketball Tournament.

Five student-athletes scored in double figures for the third-seeded Rams (19-7), who advance to play second-seeded Endicott in a semifinal round game Thursday night. The Leopards see their season end with a 9-17 record, which included making their 16th straight conference tournament appearance.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Featuring six ties and 15 lead changes, the first half was a true back-and-forth affair. Jack Connell drained a pair of three-pointers, the second of which put Wentworth ahead by an 8-7 margin three and a half minutes into the contest. After Danny Yardemian made a layup, which gave the Rams an 11-10 lead, Russell Dolabany followed with a layup of his own and Tyler Stewart followed with a layup with 14:00 left which gave the Leopards a 14-11 lead.
• After Nathan Brinkman hit a three to give the Black & Gold a 19-18 lead, Niko Rosich followed with a three of his own, putting Wentworth ahead, 22-18, and the Leopards led by four again when Connell put down a jumper with 8:23 left. Cole LeVangie and Nick Verdile hit back-to-back threes to put the hosts on top, 26-24, with 6:05 left, however, Stewart followed with a three-point play that put the Black & Gold ahead, 27-26 before Dolabany hit a three, extending the lead back to four with 4:26 left.
• Using a 7-0 run, the Rams took a 33-30 lead after LeVangie hit a three with 2:19 left. Nathaniel Smith hit a three and Stewart hit a free throw to put Wentworth back on top, 34-33, with 40 seconds left. Just before the buzzer sounded, Dolabany tipped the ball in to give the Leopards a 36-33 advantage at the break.
• The back-and-forth continued in the early part of the second half with the Leopards taking a 44-41 lead with 18:16 left on a Dolabany three and Suffolk responding with five straight points to take a 46-44 lead. Connell knotted the score at 46-all but three-pointers from Yardemian and Verdile sandwiched around a jumper from Connell gave the hosts a 52-48 lead. After Dolabany hit a three to bring Wentworth back to within one, LeVangie hit a pair of three-pointers which put the Rams on top, 58-51.
• A layup and a dunk from Stewart started an 11-2 run for the Leopards, who took a 62-60 lead after Stewart's sixth point of the run. Connell scored the other five Wentworth points.
• With 9:34 left, Robinson tied the game at 62-all and started the 19-4 run and put Suffolk on top, 81-66, after a three from Verdile with 2:15 left. Wentworth was able to bring the lead down to as few as six (83-77) after a Stewart layup, however, were unable to get any closer.
• Verdile led all scorers with 27 points. Robertson (22), LeVangie (15), and Yardemian (14) also were in double figures. LeVangie also had eight assists.
• Connell led Wentworth with 24 points to go along with five assists. Stewart recorded a double-double with 23 points (on 10-for-16 shooting) and 16 rebounds. He also has three assists, two blocks, and three steals. Dolabany added 17. Wentworth had a 39-35 rebounding advantage and a 14-3 advantage in fast-break points.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Tonight was the 25th all-time meeting between the two teams and the second time in the last three seasons that the two teams have met in the postseason.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Connell set a single-season scoring average (21.9) and posted the third-highest point total (570) as well as third-most field goals (214) in a season. He finishes his career as Wentworth's career leader in three-pointers made (220) and third in scoring (1,608)
• Stewart set a single-season (.665) and career (.646) record for field goal percentage as well as finishing as the program's all-time blocked shot leader (135) and second all-time rebounder (754).

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