CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Senior John-Michael Fragnoli (Schenectady, N.Y.) poured in a career high 24 points to help the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team start 2015 in the win column as the Leopards defeated Lesley, 65-60, in non-conference action Saturday afternoon.
After having their four-game win streak snapped by Boston University on Monday night, the Leopards even their record at 5-5. The Lynx dropped their second straight to sit at 1-7.
Lesley scored the opening basket 35 seconds into the contest and it was nearly a minute later before Fragnoli would even the score. Freshman Sam Knollmeyer (Hampton, N.H.) drained a three to give Wentworth its first lead with 17:42 to play.
Senior Ray Bessette (Dedham, Maine) hit one of two free throws with 15:33 left in the half to give the Leopards a 6-4 lead, however the Lynx responded with a 10-0 run and took a 14-6 lead on a pair of senior Justin Rosa (East Brunswick, N.J.) free throws. Rose had seven of his team's 10 points during the run.
Wentworth closed the gap to four (17-13) when sophomore Dan DeVaux (Wethersfield, Conn.) hit a 3-pointer with 8:39 remaining but found itself trailing by eight after Lesley scored six of the next eight points.
Fragnoli and junior Kyle Romich (Groton, Mass.) each hit two free throws and Bessette drained a trifecta to make it a one-point (23-22) contest with 3:13 left and Fragnoli continued the run with a basket that gave the Leopards a 24-23 lead with 1:29 left. Freshman Cesar Fulcar (Watertown, Mass.) extended the lead with one of two free throws with a minute remaining.
Rosa hit two free throws to even the contest at 25-all with 55 seconds remaining before Fulcar drained a three to give Wentworth a 28-25 lead. However, the Lynx would score the final four points of the half – a junior Chris Barletta (Valrico, Fla.) basket and two free throws from Rosa – to take a 29-28 lead into the locker room.
Senior Matt Gianoni (Berlin, Conn.) hit a jumper on the hosts' first possession to extend the run to seven points and the Lynx lead to three. Wentworth responded with a 14-1 run, taking the lead for good, 42-32, with 15:46 to play. Fragnoli had six points during the run with Fulcar and junior Ian Therriault (Auburn, Maine) each hitting 3-pointers and Knollmeyer adding a basket of his own.
The Leopards would lead by as many as 15 on three occasions, including after Fragnoli scored with 2:37 remaining. Lesley would use a 13-3 run to close out the game, however would get no closer.
Fragnoli was 9-for-16 from the floor in leading all scorers and besting his career high by one point while also grabbing eight rebounds. Fulcar added 12 points, three assists, and four steals, and Knollmeyer had nine points and three assists. Therriault finished with a game-high nine rebounds. Wentworth held a 41-35 rebounding advantage and scored 18 points off 13 Lynx turnovers.
Rosa led Lesley with 19 points while senior Nikalus Oliver (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Barletta had 11 and 10, respectively.
Wentworth resumes Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Tuesday when the Leopards host the University of New England at 7:30 p.m. That same day, Lesley is at Southern Vermont in a New England Collegiate Conference matchup.
May 13, 2015
Wentworth Athletics Mourns the Loss of Frank Nestor
March 3, 2015
ECAC Tabs Fulcar as Rookie of the Week
March 2, 2015
Fulcar Named CCC Rookie of the Week
February 28, 2015
Men's Basketball's Run Ends in CCC Title Game
February 26, 2015
Men's Basketball Headed to CCC Title Game
February 24, 2015
Men's Basketball Advances in CCC Tournament
February 24, 2015
Fragnoli Honored by the Commonwealth Coast Conference
February 21, 2015
Men's Basketball to Host Gordon in CCC Quarterfinals
February 21, 2015
Men's Basketball Falls in Regular-Season Finale
February 17, 2015
Men's Basketball Falls to Endicott
February 14, 2015
Men's Basketball Pulls Away in Second Half
February 13, 2015
Wentworth Basketball Teams to Team up With American Cancer Society
February 11, 2015
Men's Basketball Defeats Western New England
February 7, 2015
Eastern Nazarene Halts Men's Basketball's Win Streak
February 3, 2015
Men's Basketball Runs Win Streak to Four
January 31, 2015
Men's Basketball Captures Third Straight Win
January 29, 2015
Men's Basketball Fends Off Gordon
January 24, 2015
Men's Basketball Snaps Losing Streak
January 20, 2015
Gulls Soar Past Men's Basketball
January 17, 2015
Nichols Fends Off Men's Basketball
January 15, 2015
Men's Basketball Falls to Western New England
January 13, 2015
Men's Basketball Comeback Bid Falls Short
January 10, 2015
Men's Basketball Suffers First League Loss
January 6, 2015
Men's Basketball Holds on to Remain Unbeaten in CCC Play
January 3, 2015
Men's Basketball Opens 2015 With Win at Lesley
December 29, 2014
Second Half Run Pushes Boston University Past Men's Basketball
December 14, 2014
Fragnoli Named CCC Player of the Week
December 9, 2014
Men's Basketball Runs Win Streak to Four
December 8, 2014
Bessette, Fulcar Earn CCC Weekly Honors
December 6, 2014
Men's Basketball Downs Gordon for Third Straight Win
December 3, 2014
Men's Basketball Cruises to Win in Conference Opener
November 25, 2014
Late Free Throws Give Men's Basketball First Win
November 22, 2014
Men's Basketball Falls to Tufts
November 20, 2014
Clark Pulls Away From Men's Basketball in Second Half
November 16, 2014
Men's Basketball Edged by Emmanuel
November 15, 2014
Emerson's Fast Start Spoils Men's Basketball's Opener
November 14, 2014
Men's Basketball Picked to Finish Seventh in Pre-Season Poll
October 18, 2014
Four Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame
October 10, 2014
Men's Basketball Team Assists With Coaches vs Cancer 5K Classic