Leopard Defense Stifles Gulls

(Courtesy of Endicott College Sports Information)

BEVERLY, Mass. – Wentworth's Sam Herrick (Duxbury, Mass.) and Matt Abbott (Falmouth, Mass.) each posted a double-double as the Leopards rolled over host Endicott, 83-65, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon in Beverly, Mass. Wentworth improves to 7-9 overall and 3-2 in the TCCC while the Gulls slip to 7-9 and 2-3 in league play. The win was the first in 10 meetings at Endicott for the Leopards, dating back to December, 1995.

Herrick, who recorded six sixth consecutive double-double, had a monster day for the Leopards, as the 6'11" junior notched 15 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in the victory. He capped off the afternoon with two exclamation point dunks in transition, helping seal the Wentworth win. Abbott, who elevated for a one-handed flush on the baseline in the first half, finished with a game-high 17 points and added 10 boards.

Wentworth was hot in the opening frame, shooting 53.8% (14-of-26) from the field to take a 38-29 lead into the intermission. Matt Abbott went off for eight-straight Leopard points in a four minute span to help build the visitor's lead.

In the second, Endicott quickly mounted its comeback as the Blue and Green cut a 15-point deficit down to just one in fewer than two minutes. Lance Greene (Dorchester, Mass.) got the run started as he converted on a tough inside look off a feed from Erik Callo (Southington, Conn.). Callo then forced a Wentworth turnover and buried a two-handed fast-break slam to pull the Gulls within 10. A steal by Graham Whitelaw (Kennebunk, Maine), followed by a layup forced a Leopards' timeout with 14:59 remaining.

Callo struck again out of the break as the big man was rewarded for running the floor, picking up the hoop and the basket to make it a five point game. Matt Bibeau (Wilmington, Mass.) dialed in from behind the arc on the following possession to make it a one-basket contest.

The momentum would be short-lived, however, as Wentworth went on a 14-5 run, capped off by a transitional 3-ball from Jack Barrett (Reading, Mass.) to make it 65-55. Moments later, Adam Dombrowski (Groton, Mass.) nailed a turnaround 3-pointer that beat the shot clock to further extend the Leopards' advantage. Sam Herrick then proceeded to ice the contest as the junior forward powered home a pair of fast-break dunks, propelling Wentworth to an 83-65 win.

In addition to Abbott and Herrick's respective double-double, the Leopards got 15 points from Dombrowski and 11 points and five assists from Shane West (Saco, Maine).

Endicott was led by Lance Greene's 15 points while Bibeau finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Erik Callo ended the day with nine points and four blocks while Whitelaw also topped out at nine points.

Endicott returns to action on Thursday, January 28th when the Gulls travel to Bristol, R.I. to square-off with the Hawks of Roger Williams University. Wentworth hosts Salve Regina on the same evening.