Stewart's Career High Lifts Men's Basketball Past Curry in CCC Opener

MILTON, Mass. – Junior Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) recorded a double-double, including scoring a career-high 30 points as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team opened Commonwealth Coast Conference play with a 64-57 win over previously unbeaten Curry (5-1) Wednesday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Curry raced out to a 6-0 lead in the first 2:17 of the contest, thanks in part to sophomore Jason Romano (Peabody, Mass.), who had four points. Wentworth responded with a 16-0 run, taking a 16-6 lead with 11:35 left after a layup from Stewart. During the run, Stewart had six points, while classmate Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.) added four. Junior Nathaniel Smith (Beacon Falls, Conn.) and sophomore Nathan Brinkman (Trumbull, Conn.) each knocked down a three.
• The Colonels used a seven-point spurt to trim the lead to three (16-13) after a three-point play from sophomore James Scali (Newburyport, Mass.). However, freshman Sean Racette (Trumbull, Conn.) answered with a three-point play of his own, giving the Black & Gold a 19-14 lead with 6:49 left.
• Freshman Favour Okeke (East Hartford, Conn.) knocked down a three with 49 seconds left to tie the game at 22-all before Connell his one of two free throws 26 seconds later to give Wentworth the lead. After a turnover, Brinkman fed Stewart for a dunk at the buzzer, pushing Wentworth's lead to three (25-22) at the break.
• Sophomore Russell Dolabany (Westwood, Mass.) put home a three to give the Leopards a 28-22 lead 37 seconds into the second half, however, Curry came back with a 12-4 run and grabbed a 34-32 lead after a sophomore Tommy Mallinson (Wilmington, Mass.) three. Two free throws from Connell evened the score at 34-all but the hosts scored the next seven points to take a 41-34 lead with 14:16 left.
• Stewart capped off an 11-2 run with a dunk that gave the Black & Gold a 45-43 lead and, after the teams traded baskets, Stewart put home a dunk that gave Wentworth a 49-47 lead. Stewart's dunk ignited an 8-2 run in which he scored six points, giving his squad a 55-49 lead with 4:22 left.
• The Colonels pulled within a pair (59-57) thanks to two free throws from senior Nick Johnson (Athens, Ga.) with 2:24 left. Curry had a chance to tie the game with 31 seconds left but missed the three-point attempt. Connell hit four straight from the line to seal the win.
• Stewart was 13-for-20 from the floor, grabbed 10 rebounds, and had three assists and a pair of blocks. Nineteen of his 30 points came in the second half, where he was 8-for 13 from the floor. Connell scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half, including going 9-for-10 from the line. Wentworth had a 47-36 rebounding advantage.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Tonight marked the 67th all-time meeting between the two teams. Wentworth has won the last 17 meetings and leads the all-time series, 43-24

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at Endicott on Saturday afternoon.

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