Western New England Holds off Men's Basketball

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Four student-athletes scored in double figures, including senior Tim Restall (Tolland, Conn.) who had a team-high 20 points as the Western New England University men's basketball team fended off Wentworth Institute of Technology, 82-73, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Tuesday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Western New England scored the game's first seven points before a pair of free throws from senior Sam Goy (Derry, N.H.) put Wentworth on the board. The Golden Bears upped their lead to 11-2 with 16:20 left on a layup from Restall, while Goy scored five more points and cut the lead to 13-7 with 13:40 left.
• A junior Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) layup with 11:30 left made it 16-11 before the Golden Bears went on a 14-3 run, taking a 30-14 lead after a three from senior Mike Resnick (Scituate, R.I.). Goy knocked down a three to end the run and start a 10-4 spurt by the Black & Gold, who trailed, 34-24, with just under four minutes left on a layup from sophomore Nathan Brinkman (Trumbull, Conn.).
• After sophomore Nate Kasper (Hopkinton, Mass.) put the hosts up by a dozen (36-24), Wentworth went on an 8-0 run, with six of those points coming from the free throw line, to make it a four-point (36-32) game with 59 seconds left. Western New England led, 39-32, at the break.
• The Golden Bears increased their lead to 10 (50-40) with 13:56 left after a sophomore Cody Palazzesi (Somers, Conn.) layup. A Goy jumper with 10:12 left capped off an 8-4 spurt and pulled Wentworth to within six (54-48), however, a 9-2 run put the hosts ahead, 63-50. The Leopards pulled the lead back to seven (69-62) after one of two free throws from sophomore Dylan Olson (Southington, Conn.) but the Golden Bears built their lead back to as many as 12 on a pair of occasions late in the contest.
• In addition to Restall, Palazzesi and sophomore Matt Houde (Windsor Locks, Conn.) each had 14 and senior Brian Geitner (Tolland, Conn.) added 11.
• Goy notched a career high with 23 points, coming on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor and included four three pointers. Stewart scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out five assists. Junior Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.) scored 10 points.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Tonight was the 30th all-time meeting between the two teams. Wentworth holds an 18-12 series advantage.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth hosts Roger Williams on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

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