BOSTON, Mass. – Senior John-Michael Fragnoli (Schenectady, N.Y.) led the Leopards with 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor to help the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team defeat the University of New England, 51-45, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action.
With the win, the Leopards improve to 6-5 and move to 4-0 in CCC play for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign. UNE now stands at 2-8 (0-3 CCC).
Junior Ian Therriault (Auburn, Maine) and senior Ray Bessette (Scarborough, Maine) kicked off the scoring with a pair of 3-pointers to take the early 6-0 lead. The teams were tied on three occasions, as they stood even with 10, 12, and then 15 points apiece. A freshman Jason Ganley (Northbridge, Mass.) jumper put the Leopards up 17-15 and didn't look back going into halftime. Wentworth closed the half on an 11-2 run to lead the contest 26-17.
The Leopards went up as many as 13 points following a freshman Cesar Fulcar (Watertown, Mass.) 3-pointer three minutes into the second to put Wentworth up 34-21. After Wentworth went up by 13 again, UNE put together a 14-4 run, which included a trio of junior Devin Thompson (Winthrop, Mass.) 3-pointers to bring the Nor'easters within two points of Wentworth. Strong play on the boards by sophomore Dan DeVaux (Wethersfield, Conn.) and Fragnoli kept the Leopards on top and brought the lead up to six. UNE wouldn't back down, as they brought the game back within two with 2:50 remaining in the second. Wentworth wouldn't lose the lead, as Bessette nailed another 3-pointer to force UNE to foul within the final two minutes. The Leopards held on and finished the game on top, 51-45.
Fragnoli added three rebounds on the night along with his 15 points. Therriault had a game-high nine rebounds in the contest while Fulcar had nine points and eight assists. Wentworth scored 21 points off 14 UNE turnovers and held a slim, 32-30 rebounding edge.
Thompson led all scorers with 20 points while going 4-9 behind the arc. Sophomore CJ Autry (Standish, Maine) had seven points, five rebounds, four assists for the Nor'Easters.
Wentworth continues conference play on Thursday night, as they travel to Eastern Nazarene to face the Lions. UNE returns home for a CCC game of their own, as the Nor'Easters host Salve Regina Thursday night.
