Connell’s Last-Second Make Clinches Men’s Basketball Edge over Nichols

BOSTON, Mass. – In a conference classic, Jack Connell of the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team hit a go-ahead jumper with .3 seconds left to lift the Black & Gold over the Nichols Bison in Conference of New England action Wednesday night.

Connell's last-second bucket helps the Leopards' record improve to 3-11 and 2-5 in conference play. The Bison fall to 7-7 and 4-3 in CNE action.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Five points from Russell Dolabany gave the Leopards an early 5-2 advantage before Wentworth went on a 13-6 run, featuring five points from Connell, to hold an 18-8 lead. The two teams swapped a basket apiece (20-11) before the Bison went on a 8-1 run, featuring four points from Javen Flowers-Smith, to cut their deficit to 21-19.
• Makes from Dolabany and Tyler Stewart later pushed Wentworth's lead to 25-19 before four straight from Stewart later in the frame marked a 29-21 score. A dunk by Ryan Savoy was answered with another make by Stewart, pushing the game to 31-23, before Nichols grabbed four straight to cut the lead to 31-27.
• A three by the Leopards was matched with a three by Flowers-Smith, extending the score to 34-30, before another three by Flowers-Smith capped a 5-0 run that gave the Bison a 35-34 edge. Connell sank two free throws, giving the Leopards a 36-35 lead, before another Flowers-Smith layup before the buzzer gave Nichols a one-point lead at the break.
• The Black & Gold started hot in the second half, going on an 8-0 run featuring two trifectas to take a 44-37 lead. Flowers-Smith sank another three to mark a 44-40 game before the two teams swapped scores, with five straight points from Connell marking a 51-43 lead. Oliver St. Louis made four straight free throws to cut the Bison's deficit to 51-47.
• Nichols clawed back with a 5-2 run, closing the gap at 53-52, before Stewart and Savoy traded layups to raise the score to 55-54. A three by Luke Chapman started a 5-0 run, giving the Bison a 59-55 lead, before a three by Dolabany cut the deficit to 59-58. A three by the Bison was answered with two layup makes by Stewart, marking a tie at 62 aside.
• The Bison took a 65-62 lead with 4:13 to go before a Stewart tip-in cut the deficit to just one. From there, Nichols scored four straight to extend their lead to 69-64 before another four straight from Stewart again cut the deficit to one (69-68). Wentworth took a one-point lead on a pair of free throw makes by Stewart with 23 seconds left before a layup from Savoy gave the Bison a 71-70 edge with just seven ticks on the clock.
• On the ensuing play, the Leopards inbounded the ball to Connell, who ran up the floor and to the right of the basket for a shot. His jumper sank with just .3 seconds on the clock. Nichols attempted to heave the ball across the court on the following play, only for it to go out of bounds. Wentworth held on for a 72-71 win.
• Stewart led all scorers with 29 points (13-20 FG) and grabbed 10 rebounds. Smith-Flowers led Nichols with 25 points, followed by Savoy with 17. Connell dropped in 16 points of his own and Dolabany added 13.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight marked the 59^th all-time meeting between the two teams, with the Black & Gold taking their first matchup over the Bison since 2021.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth continues their homestand Saturday versus conference rival Suffolk.
  
  

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