WNE Outpaces Men’s Basketball

BOSTON, Mass. – Extending on an 11-point lead at the half, the Western New England Golden Bears men's basketball team fended off the Wentworth Institute of Technology by an 83-66 score in Conference of New England action Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Bears push their overall mark to 7-3 while being 3-0 in conference play. The Leopards fall to 1-5 and 0-2 in CNE action.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A three by Andrew Byfield opened the game's scoring and helped the Golden Bears on a 5-0 run before two points by Jack Connell kickstarted a 4-0 run for Wentworth. WNE scored eight of the next 10 points, including an and-one from Jake Harrison, to hold a 13-6 lead before a Russell Dolabany jumper cut the deficit to 13-8.
• Two points from Tim Restall sparked an 8-0 run for the Golden Bears, marking a 21-8 score. After the Leopards sank three of their own, a layup by Brian Geitner helped the Golden Bears to a 25-11 lead before a Nathan Brinkman three later cut the deficit to 25-15. A three by Geitner pushed the lead to 28-15 and was followed by another Leopards' three, pushing the game to 28-18.
• Four points by Restall extended WNE's lead to 32-18 before a three by Dolabany later cut the Leopards' deficit to 34-23. Another three by Geitner pushed the score to 37-23 before three points by Connell later helped the Black & Gold cut the deficit at 38-26. The two teams traded scores to finish the half, with WNE holding a 42-31 lead.
• Wentworth made quick work cutting the deficit to start the second half, as seven points from Connell dwindled the lead to 42-38. Byfield drained a three to mark a 45-38 score before Dolabany knocked down a three to mark a 45-41 score. The two teams traded points before another Dolabany three would mark a 53-48 score.
• A three knocked down by Connell would later continue the Leopards' deficit to a 58-53 score before six points by Restall would extend the lead later to 66-55. Two threes for the Golden Bears sandwiched a pair of Leopard free throws, marking a 72-57 score, just before a Sean Racette layup cut the deficit by two.
• Geitner hit a three to push the Golden Bears' lead to 77-59 before the two teams swapped scores, with WNE fending off the Leopards, 83-66. Restall led all scorers with 24 points (10-for-16 FG), followed by Connell with 21 (7-for-16 FG). Dolabany followed with his 18 points (6-for-10 FG) and led Wentworth with three steals.

SERIES NOTES:

• Winners of two of the last four matchups, the Leopards lead the all-time series, 19-13.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth travels to Hartford on Wednesday.
  
  

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