Stewart Sinks Career-High as Men's Basketball Pulls Away from UNE

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Junior Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) of the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team (10-10, 5-6 CCC) drained a career-high 32 points as the Leopards pulled away late from the University of New England Nor'Easters (5-15, 0-12 CCC), grabbing an 89-85 conference win Wednesday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After junior Jack Pyzynski (Saco, Maine) drained a three to put the hosts ahead, Wentworth responded with five straight, including a three by sophomore Nathan Brinkman (Trumbull, Conn.) to take a 5-2 lead. UNE battled back, later taking a 12-7 lead, before a dunk by Stewart cut the deficit to three.
• After a Pyzynski layup marked a 14-9 score, the Leopards went on a 15-4 run, including eight points by Stewart and another five by sophomore Russell Dolabany (Westwood, Mass.) to take a 24-18 lead. The Nor'Easters sandwiched a three by the Leopards with two threes of their own, marking a 27-24 deficit, before three pointers later by junior Adam Lux (Arundel, Maine) and junior Zach Boulay (Windham, Mass.) tied the score at 32-all.
• Two baskets by junior Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.) gave Wentworth a 36-32 lead before a Connell three later extended the lead at 42-36. A three by Lux capped a 7-0 run for the hosts, giving them a 43-42 edge, before the two teams traded scores to mark a 45-45 tie at the break.
• The two teams traded baskets to begin the second frame, with Wentworth taking a 50-47 lead thanks to five points by Stewart before four points by freshman Kha Cao Ra James (Washington, D.C.) started an 8-0 run for UNE, giving them a 55-50 advantage. Wentworth knotted the score at 55-all thanks to a three by senior Sam Goy (Derry, N.H.) before later going on a 5-0 run to take a 60-57 lead.
• Five points by Pyzynski helped UNE go on a 13-2 run, giving the hosts a 70-62 lead, before Stewart rattled off seven straight points to cut the Leopards' deficit to 70-69. After UNE scored four straight to hold a 74-69 lead, Goy and Connell drained threes after a Stewart free throw make to give Wentworth a 76-74 advantage.
• The two teams traded scores in the later going, with UNE taking an 80-78 lead thanks a three-pointer. However, the Black & Gold scored six straight, coming on threes by Brinkman and Connell, to take an 84-80 lead. A three by sophomore Adrian Torres (Dracut, Mass.) dwindled the Nor'Easters deficit to just one before the Leopards gained some insurance on two free throw makes by Connell, marking an 86-83 score.
• A Lux layup cut UNE's deficit to one, but it wasn't enough as Wentworth claimed the victory on free throws, 89-85. Stewart's 32 on 13-for-16 shooting led the game and marked a new career-high, while the forward added 12 boards for the double-double. Connell followed with 22 points, while Pyzynski led the Nor'Easters with 20.

SERIES NOTES:

• Winners of five straight, the Leopards lead the all-time series, 33-16.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth hosts crosstown conference rival Suffolk on Saturday.

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