Strong Second Half Propels Men's Basketball Past Curry

BOSTON, Mass. – Jack Connell scored a game-high 24 points and dished out a game-high eight assists as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team used a strong second half performance to defeat Curry, 84-72, in Conference of New England action Tuesday night.

With the win the Leopards improve to 2-10 overall and 1-4 in CNE play, while the Colonels fall to 1-11 (0-5).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Curry took three early leads, including when Francisco Lopez hit a three pointer with 12:22 left to make it 11-5. Five straight points from Connell brought the hosts to within one before Malik Gelinas hit a trifecta, putting the Colonels on top, 14-10. Five straight points from Donovan Holway gave the Leopards a15-14 lead, however, Curry answered with a 15-2 run, taking a 30-17 lead on a Will O'Malley three pointer with 6:33 to play.
• A pair of free throws from Russell Dolabany brought the lead back down to single digits (38-29) but a 6-2 spurt put the Colonels ahead, 44-31 after a Dekel Cohen Sharon jumper. The Black & Gold closed out the first half scoring the last six points, including when Nathan Brinkman hit a three as time expired, making it 44-37 at the break.
• Using the end of the first half momentum, the Black & Gold came out firing to open the second half, using a 19-4 run over the first six minutes of the second half, taking a 56-48 lead after a pair of Connell free throws. O'Malley ended the run with a layup and Jeremiah Predin followed with a layup to pull Curry within four points.
• After Dolabany made a layup, Gelinas and Lopez followed with baskets to bring the Colonels to with two (58-56) and Predin hit one of two from the line with 11:10 left to bring the Colonels to within one (58-57). Sean Racette kickstarted an 8-2 run, which put the hosts ahead, 66-59 with seven minutes remaining.
• Holoway converted a dunk with 5:10 left, putting Wentworth on top, 71-60. Six straight Colonel free throws brought Curry back to within five a minute and 20 seconds later. However, two free throws from Stewart started a 13-6 spurt to close out the game. Wentworth shot 53.6 percent from the floor and held Curry to 25.7 percent.
• Connell's 24 points led four student-athletes in double figures as Stewart added 19 (15 in the second half) and 10 rebounds, while Dolabany and Brinkman each had 11.
• Lopez led Curry with 18 points while Gelinas added 15. Predin scored 12 and grabbed 14 rebounds, while dishing out five assists.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today was the 69th all-time meeting between the two teams. Winners of the last 19 meetings, Wentworth holds a 45-24 series advantage.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at Gordon in a Conference of New England contest on Saturday.

For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on "X," Facebook and Instagram.