BOSTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team (1-0) fended off a late surge by the Norwich Cadets (0-1) in their season opener at home Wednesday evening, with the Leopards holding on for a 60-59 win in the team's opening contest of the 2023-24 campaign.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A quiet opening three minutes of play resulted in just four total points, all for the Leopards off of the hands of junior Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.). The Cadets stormed back, eventually grabbing a 10-9 edge, before a three-pointer by sophomore Russell Dolabany (Westwood, Mass.) gave the Leopards a 12-10 lead.
• The two teams swapped scores, working towards the Leopards' favor at 21-17, before two points by Stewart and another two by junior Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.) extended Wentworth's lead to 25-17. The Leopards outpaced the Cadets 8-6 in the final going of the half, holding a 33-22 lead.
• The two teams traded baskets to open the second half, cutting the Cadets' deficit to ten at 39-29, before another Dolabany three extended the lead again, this time to 42-29. Norwich cut the lead to 11 on a two-point make by senior Jalen Olivero (Holyoke, Mass.). The Cadets went on an 8-2 run to dwindle the deficit to seven at 44-37 before Stewart and Connell two-point makes gave the Leopards a 48-39 lead. A three by Olivero once again cut the Cadets' deficit, this time at six at 48-42.
• The two teams traded points in the final going of the second half, with Wentworth taking a 53-46 lead before a layup by sophomore Charles Nogard (Oviedo, Fla.) dwindled the deficit to five at 53-48. Nogard and Stewart traded baskets to bring the score to 57-52 before a Connell three-pointer marked a 60-52 lead.
• The Cadets marched back, with Nogard scoring five of the team's seven points in the final stretch, but it wasn't enough to overtake the Leopards, with Wentworth holding on for a 60-59 win.
• Stewart led all scorers with 22 points on 10-for-15 shooting. Connell added 14 while Nogard led the Cadets with 16 points of his own.

SERIES NOTES:

• Wentworth owns the all-time series, 2-0.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards host Worcester State on Saturday.

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