Nichols Defeats Men's Basketball

BOSTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team fell to the Nichols Bison 87-64 in a conference showdown Saturday afternoon. Graduate student Matthew Alectus (Hollywood, Fla.) led with a game-high 30 points for the Bison.

RECORDS:

• Wentworth: 7-7 (3-5 CCC)
• Nichols: 10-5 (6-2 CCC)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

LEADING SCORERS:   Tyler Stewart, 13; Jack Schaake, 12; Jack Connell, Sam Goy, 7
LEADING REBOUNDERS:   Schaake, 8; Thomas Hacker, 5; Goy, Stewart, 4
ASSIST LEADERS:   Connell, Sam Swift, 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Nichols started the first half on a 12-0 run, with eight of the points coming from Alectus. Wentworth answered with six-straight, as four were scored by senior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.), to put the score at 12-6. After Nichols scored another two, freshman Russell Dolabany (Westwood, Mass.) sank a three-pointer and nailed a free throw to make the score 14-10.
• Nichols scored four points after Dolabany's make, bringing the score to 18-10, until a three from freshman Nathan Brinkman (Trumbull, Conn.) cut the deficit to 18-13. The two teams traded baskets to a 22-15 score until senior Sam Swift (Arlington, Mass.) was fouled on a three-point attempt. Swift sank all three of his free throws, cutting the deficit to 22-18. Following Swift's scores was a dunk by senior Quincy Ferebee (San Diego, Calif.) to bring the score to 24-18.
• After Nichols made a free throw, the Leopards rattled off seven-straight points, with four coming from senior Conor Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) and three coming from sophomore Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.), to knot the score at 25-25. The two teams traded baskets to a 29-29 tie until a three from Alectus put the visitors ahead 32-29. Junior Sam Goy (Derry, N.H.) knocked down a three to tie the score at 32-32. Alectus hit another three, bringing the score to 35-32, and three free throw makes gave Nichols a 38-32 lead at the half.
• Wentworth opened the second half on a 5-0 run, with a three-pointer coming from sophomore Nathaniel Smith (Beacon Falls, Conn.), to cut the deficit to 38-37. After a Nichols' two, Smith nailed another three to even the score at 40. Wentworth got ahead as sophomore Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) had a three-point play, marking the score at 43-40. Nichols answered once more with a three from junior Nate Duckworth (Normal, Ill.), marking the score at 43-all.
• The two teams traded baskets to work up to a 50-49 score until the Bison led 14-0 run, backed by six points from Ferebee, to put the score at 64-49. After a Schaake layup, the Bison rattled off another six-straight to make the score 70-51. A Stewart layup began a back-and-forth scoring affair, bringing the score to 75-59. Nichols then went on a 10-2 run, backed by six points from Alectus, to make the score 85-61. Junior Ikenna Azums (Hyde Park, Mass.) made a three before Nichols scored the last two, giving the Bison an 87-64 victory.
• Alectus drained a game-high 30 points and led four other members of the Bison to double figures. Stewart (13 points) and Schaake (12 points) led the Leopards' contributors.

SERIES NOTES:

• Winners of the last three, Nichols leads the all-time series, 31-23.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth plays New England College at home tomorrow (3:00 p.m.).

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