Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Men's Basketball Edged in Season Opener

Men's Basketball Edged in Season Opener

PLYMOUTH, N.H.. – Senior Dante Rivera (Lawrence, Mass.) scored a game-high 24 points to help the Plymouth State University men's basketball team edge Wentworth Institute of Technology, 74-73, in non-conference action Tuesday night.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

LEADING SCORERS:  Trey Carrier, 15; Sam Swift, 14; Sam Goy, 13; Kevin Fernandez, 11
LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Jack Schaake, 8; Thomas Hacker, 7; Tyler Lennon, 7
ASSIST LEADERS:  Kevin Fernandez, 5

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • Wentworth took a 3-2 lead after sophomore Sam Goy (Derry, N.H.) hit a three pointer 1:39 into the contest. The lead was erased when Plymouth State used a 7-0 run, taking a 9-3 lead on a pair of free throws from sophomore Kevin Henry (Stratham, N.H.).
  • The Panthers upped their lead to eight (13-5) on a sophomore Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) jumper with 14:23 left before a transition three from senior Kevin Fernandez (Lawrence, Mass.) and a three from classmate Trey Carrier (Wilton, N.H.) cut the lead in half (15-11) in a 6-2 spurt.
  • Using a 15-5 run, the hosts took a 14-point lead (30-16) after Rivera made two free throws with 5:41 left in the half. Plymouth State took its largest lead of the game on a put back from senior Gerald Fleming (Tampa, Fla.) with 3:55 left before the Leopards used a 11-4 run and cut the lead to eight (38-30), thanks to two junior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) free throws with 57 seconds left. Bosse made a layup with 18 seconds left, giving the Panthers a 10-point edge (40-30) at the break.
  • Plymouth State led by as many as 13 early in the second half after a basket from Rivera, however, Wentworth outscored the Panthers, 11-0 over a span of four and a half minutes with senior Kyle Henseler (Coventry, R.I.) making a layup to make it a two-point game.
  • The Panthers upped their lead to as many as five before the Black & Gold took their first two leads since early in the first half. Goy gave Wentworth a 57-56 advantage after hitting a pull-up jumper, while Fernandez put the Leopards back in front with a layup after the Panthers had reclaimed the lead.
  • Wentworth held a two-point lead (63-61) when Schaake connected on a second-chance opportunity before the hosts used an 11-2 run to take a 72-65 lead after a Fleming basket with 2:54 remaining. Carrier put home a second-chance basket to trim the lead to five before Rivera converted at the other end to make it 74-67 with 2:10 left.
  • Goy hit a three and made one of two free throws to cut the lead to three with 45 seconds left. On Goy's second free throw, the Black & Gold had a second- and third-chance opportunity but would not score. Rivera grabbed the rebound and was fouled where he missed the front end of the one-and-one. Schaake pulled Wentworth to within one (74-73) with 16 seconds left with a driving layup.
  • With 10 seconds left, the Panthers threw the ball away, giving Wentworth a chance at the win. Fernandez drove to the basket where his shot rimmed out as time expired.
  • Four players scored in double figures for Wentworth, with Carrier leading the way scoring 15 points and grabbing five rebounds. Junior Sam Swift (Arlington, Mass.) had 14 points – which included going 4-for-7 from behind the arc. Goy added 13 points and Fernandez scored 11 points and dished out five assists.

SERIES NOTES:

  • This was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

  • Wentworth is at Wheaton on Saturday at 1:00 p.m..

For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Wentworth Leopards "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.