Monteiro Scores 21 off Bench as Leopards Clinch Playoff Spot

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore guard Brendan Monteiro (Brockton, Mass.) came off the bench to score 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting as the Wentworth men's basketball team punched its ticket to the 2010 The Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament with a 76-64 win over Curry in a TCCC contest played at Tansey Gymnasium.

The Leopards led wire to wire, jumping out to a 12-2 lead 5:38 into the contest on a basket by senior forward Shane West (Milford, N.H.).  The Colonels trimmed the lead to 16-10 with 12:53 left on back-to-back baskets from senior guard Mark Mastrullo (Billerica, Mass.) and junior forward Rodney Bennett (Mattapan, Mass.).  However, a dunk by senior forward Matt Abbott (Falmouth, Mass.) began an 8-3 run that would but the Leopards ahead, 24-13.  Curry trimmed the lead to as few as six points twice and a late basket by Monteiro gave the Leopards a 41-33 lead at the break.

Curry scored seven of the first nine points to open the second half, trimming the lead to three on a layup by sophomore guard Jarrell Jackson (Brockton, Mass.) with 16:31 to play.  However, five straight points from freshman forward Corey Therriault (Auburn, Maine) extended the lead to eight, and, after a basket by Jackson, sophomore guard Eric Prue (Auburn, Maine) and Monteiro hit back-to-back baskets to make it a 10-point game.

The Leopards would lead by as much as 12 with 10:19 remaining, but saw the lead shrink to five with 7:16 on a three pointer from Mastrullo.  Senior guard Jack Barrett (Reading, Mass.) answered with a trifecta of his own to give Wentworth a 63-55 lead.  Junior guard Michael Worrick (North Grafton, Mass.) hit a basket with 6:09 left to make it a six-point game before Wentworth scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 12-point lead with 2:47 left and put the game away.

Abbott added 14 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists while West had 12 caroms, three assists, and three steals.  Mastrullo led all scorers with 22 points, with senior guard Phillippe Jourdain (Cambridge, Mass.) adding 16 of his own.  Bennett had 12 rebounds to go along with eight points.

With the win Wentworth improves to 12-10 overall and 8-3 in conference play.  Curry drops its second straight to fall to 11-12 overall (8-3 TCCC).  Both teams are in action Wednesday night.  Wentworth is at Colby-Sawyer while Curry hosts Roger Williams.