Leopards Erase 18-Point Deficit to Down Anna Maria, 67-61

PAXTON, Mass. – Senior forward Shane West (Milford, N.H.) hit one of two free throws with 1:02 remaining to snap a 61-61 tie as the Wentworth men's basketball team rallied from being down by as many as 20 points in the first half to win its fifth straight game, 67-61, over Anna Maria in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference contest.

After the two teams traded baskets in the first 2:07, the AMCATS took control, eventually pushing a five-point lead into a 13-point lead with 9:46 remaining in the half.  Senior guard Colin Purdon (Putnam, Conn.) had seven consecutive points in a span of 1:51.  Leopard junior Sam Herrick (Duxbury, Mass.) scored the next four Wentworth points, sandwiched around a basket by Anna Maria junior forward Derek Johnson (Worcester, Mass.), and cut the lead to 11 with 7:48 remaining.

That would be as close as Wentworth would get as the AMCATS used a 12-3 run over the next 3:40 to push the lead to 20 and would hold a 39-23 lead at the half.  Neither team shot well over the first 20:00, with Anna Maria going 14-for-37 (37.8 percent) and Wentworth shooting 9-for-26 (34.6 percent).  The two teams combined to go 7-for-25 from behind the three-point arc.

The AMCATS led by as much as 18 with 17:38 to play on a basket from freshman guard Anthony Click (Springfield, Mass.) before the Leopards began to chip away.  Trailing by 12 (49-37) after a Click basket with 13:32 left in the game, Wentworth used a 16-1 run over the next 5:36 to take a three-point lead when Herrick and West combined to score six consecutive points.  Anna Maria trimmed the lead to one, but West hit one of two free throws and sophomore guard Adam Dombrowski (Dunstable, Mass.) hit a three pointer to push the lead to five.

Click hit two free throws and junior guard Junior De La Hoz (Lawrence, Mass.) buried a three to tie the game at 57-all with 4:40 left.  That would be one of three ties in a span of 2:14, with the last coning when AMCAT freshman guard Javier Bristol (Haverhill, Mass.) hit a jumper with 2:26 left.

After West hit the first free throw, a foul was called on the rebound of the missed second shot.  Sophomore guard Eric Prue (Auburn, Maine) hit both free throws to bring the lead to three.  On Anna Maria's next possession, an offensive foul gave the ball back to the Leopards with 43 seconds left.  Senior guard Jack Barrett (Reading, Mass.) sealed the game with a three pointer with 13 seconds left, giving Wentworth a 67-61 lead.

Senior forward Matt Abbott (Falmouth, Mass.) scored 14 points, while Herrick recorded a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 boards.  Sophomore guard Brendan Monteiro (Brockton, Mass.) chipped in with 10 points in the win.  The Leopards held a 42-31 advantage on the glass.

Junior guard Chris Pinsonault (Marlboro, Mass.) led all scorers with 16 points to go along with three steals.  Johnson had 10 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.

With the win Wentworth improves to 11-9 overall and remains in second place in league play with a 7-2 record.  Anna Maria dropped its second straight falling to 8-13 overall and 3-6 in TCCC play.  Both teams are in action Tuesday night; Wentworth hosts Nichols, while Anna Maria travels to Roger Williams.