NEWPORT, R.I. – Using a 35-1 run to open the second half, the fifth-seeded Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the 2020 Commonwealth Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament with an 89-64 win over fourth-seeded Salve Regina Tuesday night.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

LEADING SCORERS:  Tyler Lennon, 18; Trey Carrier, 18; Kevin Fernandez, 16. Noah Bice, 15
LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Tyler Lennon, 8; Kevin Fernandez, 8; Jack Schaake, 7; Stephen Azums, 7
ASSIST LEADERS:  Noah Bice, 4; Trey Carrier, 3; Kevin Fernandez, 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth jumped out to a 13-2 lead to open the game, thanks to hitting its first five shots from the floor. Junior Trey Carrier (Wilton, N.H.) led the way with seven points. Salve Regina scored the next seven points and cut the lead to four on a three-point play from junior Cameron Collins (Orlando, Fla.). The Seahawks tied the game at 19-all on a three from sophomore Mikey Spencer (Abington, Mass.), however, the Leopards responded with the next six points, taking a 25-19 lead on a freshman Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) layup.
• Salve Regina used a 21-5 run to take a 40-30 lead with Collins scoring nine consecutive points during the run. Two free throws from sophomore Kevin Fernandez (Lawrence, Mass.) with 40 seconds left ended the run and the Seahawks led, 42-34, at the break.
• Wentworth opened the second half on a 35-1 run, thanks in part to seven consecutive points from Fernandez, who contributed nine points during the run, and took a 69-43 lead with 9:37 left. A three from Spencer provided the Seahawks with their first field goal of the half, coming 10:42 into the frame. Spencer's three started an 8-2 run with him hitting another three with 7:54 left to cut the lead to 15. Junior Kyle Henseler (Coventry, R.I.) hit two free throws to end the run and Schaake followed with a layup to push the lead to 19 with 6:18 left.
• The Leopards pushed their lead to 22 after sophomore Noah Bice (Woodacre, Calif.) drained a three with 5:17 left and two free throws from Carrier made it a 24-point contest. Benjamin hit a three with 4:08 left, however, two free throws from Lennon and a layup from Azums halted the Seahawks' spurt.
• Lennon and Carrier led the Leopards in scoring with 18 points apiece, with Lennon also grabbing eight rebounds. Fernandez finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Bice had 15 points and four assists. Wentworth shot 57.4 percent from the floor in the win, including going 18-for-27 (66.7 percent) from the floor in the second half, a half which saw Salve Regina shoot 23.1 percent. The Leopards also had a 41-27 rebounding advantage.
• Collins led Salve Regina with 17 points, followed by Spencer who had 16.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight marked the 67th all-time meeting between the two programs with Salve Regina holding a slim, 34-33 series advantage. This was also the fifth postseason meeting all-time, however, the first since the 2011 CCC Championship game. Wentworth picked up its first postseason series win with the victory.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth (16-10) heads to top-seeded Endicott for a semifinal game on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Salve Regina sees its season end at 12-14.

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