Men's Basketball Falls to Nichols, Clinches Berth in CNE Tournament

DUDLEY, Mass. – Behind a game-high 30 points from Jack Connell, the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team fell short to the Nichols Bison by an 81-69 score in Conference of New England action Wednesday night.

Despite the loss, the Black & Gold clinched a berth into the 2025 CNE Men's Basketball Tournament, marking their 19^th straight postseason appearance following their regular season finale against Gordon on Saturday.

With the win, the Bison improve to 13-11 overall and 10-7 in conference action. The Leopards fall to 9-15 overall and 8-9 in CNE play.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The hot-shooting Bison started the night with an 18-2 run, featuring six points from Javon Flowers-Smith and another four from Ryan Savoy. Buckets by Connell and Tyler Stewart sandwiched another Nichols make, marking a 20-6 score, before a three-point play by Savoy extended the Bison's lead to 23-6.
• Wentworth responded by scoring 13 of the next 17 points, including four by Connell and another three by Nathan Brinkman, to cut the deficit to 27-19. Four straight points by the Bison were answered with an 8-0 run for the Leopards, dwindling the deficit to 31-27. A Connell three and Stewart layup highlighted a 5-4 edge for the Black & Gold at the end of the quarter, marking a 35-32 lead for Nichols at the break.
• After Stewart opened the second half's scoring, the Bison rattled off four straight to push their lead to 39-34. Three straight for Wentworth was answered with four straight by Oliver St. Louis, marking a 43-37 score, before two Connell makes sandwiching a Bison free throw raised the score to 44-41.
• Nichols pulled away with a 20-2 run, featuring seven points from St. Louis and four from Simon Percy, to take hold of a 64-43 lead with 6:57 left to go. The Leopards answered with a 13-3 run of their own, featuring six points from Connell and another four from Stewart, to cut the deficit to 67-56.
• The Bison endured another run, this time at 10-3, to extend their advantage to 77-59 before Connell scored six straight to cut Wentworth's deficit at 77-65. The two teams swapped scores the rest of the way with the Bison holding on, 81-69.
• Connell's 30 points led all scorers (13-26 FG) while he dished out four assists. St. Louis led five Bison in double-figures with 21 points (5-7 FG) and 11 rebounds. Stewart also notched a double-double for the Black & Gold, dropping 16 points and adding 11 boards.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Stewart's 16-point performance moved him into fifth place in all-time Leopard scoring.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight marked the 60^th all-time meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards hold Senior Day on Saturday against Gordon.
  
  

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