BOSTON, Mass. – Junior guard Corey Therriault (Auburn, Maine) scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and senior guard Adam Dombrowski (Dunstable, Mass.) scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds to pace four double figure scorers as the Wentworth men's basketball team opened the 2011-12 campaign with a 60-51 win over Wheelock.
The visiting Wildcats had the early advantage, using a 9-0 run over a span of 4:28 to turn a 5-all game into a 14-5 lead. During the run senior guard Victor Kashouh (Providence, R.I.) had five points and classmate Kyle Pierce (Providence, R.I.) added four.
Wheelock took a 22-14 lead on a pair of Pierce free throws with 6:08 left in the half, but those would be the last points the Wildcats would score in the opening stanza as the Leopards closed out the half on a 16-0 run and took a 30-22 lead at the break.
Wentworth extended its lead to as many as 14 in the opening moments of the second half, taking a 38-24 lead on a freshman forward John-Michael Fragnoli (Scotia, N.Y.) basket. However, the Wildcats clawed their way back and used an 18-4 run to tie the game at 42-all on a senior guard Max Kaim (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) layup. After Fragnoli hit two free throws to put the Leopards up by a pair, Kaim drained a three to give the visitors a 45-44 lead with 6:36 left.
Dombrowski hit a layup to give the hosts the lead at 46-45 with 6:04 left before junior guard Bashir Hudson (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) tied the game with one of two free throws. One of two free throws from sophomore guard Derek Mayo (Casco, Maine) and a basket by Dombrowski pushed the lead to three with 4:20 left. Wheelock trimmed the lead to one on a Kaim basket, but an 11-3 Wentworth run sealed the win.
Mayo finished the game with 10 of his 12 points coming in the second half, while Fragnoli had an impressive collegiate debut, recording 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. The Leopards held a 41-29 advantage on the glass.
Pierce led the Wildcats with 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Kaim had 14 points and Kashouh chipped in with 12 and five rebounds.
Wentworth (1-0) travels to Lewiston, Maine, this weekend to play in the Hilton Garden Inn Tip-Off Tournament where the Leopards will play Maine-Fort Kent on Saturday and host Bates on Sunday. Wheelock (0-1) plays in the Emmanuel College Tip-Off Tournament his weekend, squaring off against Westfield State on Friday night.
