BOSTON, Mass. – Senior John-Michael Fragnoli (Schenectady, N.Y.) and freshman Jason Ganley (Northbridge, Mass.) each recorded double-doubles to lead a trio of double-figure scorers as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team defeated Roger Williams, 67-51, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference contest played at Tansey Gymnasium.
With the win the Leopards improve to 12-11 overall and 10-6 in league play and clinch the number four seed in the upcoming CCC Tournament. The Hawks fall to 7-16 overall and 5-11 in league play after suffering their eighth straight defeat.
Roger Williams came out of the gates scoring the first six points and took a 6-0 lead on a jumper by sophomore Josh Syska (Peabody, Mass.) 2:48 into the contest. The Hawks would extend their lead to nine (13-4) on a junior Josh McCourt (Lincoln, R.I.) basket with 11:56 to play. However, Wentworth scored the next nine points as Fragnoli had three consecutive baskets and senior Ray Bessette (Dedham, Maine) drained a three with 8:51 left to knot the game at 13-all.
The Leopards took their first lead with 7:06 left when freshman Cesar Fulcar (Watertown, Mass.) drained a trifecta, and, after a tie and a pair of lead changes, Fragnoli gave the hosts a 21-20 lead with 3:32 left. Wentworth would lead, 27-24 at the break, after Ganley hit two free throws with 1.2 seconds left.
A three-point play from senior Ryan Palumbo (Warwick, R.I.) tied the game at 27-all early in the second half and Roger Williams would tie the game two more times, including with 11:08 left, however the Leopards used an 18-2 run over the next six minutes to break open the game, leading by 16 with 5:59 left. Wentworth would lead by as many as 20 on two occasions late in the contest.
Fragnoli was 8-for-12 from the floor, scoring 21 points and grabbing a dozen rebounds while Ganley had career highs of 14 points and 11 boards. Bessette finished the contest with 12 points and eight assists. Wentworth, which held the Hawks to 38.8 percent shooting from the floor, had a 42-37 rebounding advantage.
Freshman Jaylen Jennings (Norwalk, Conn.) led the Hawks with 13 points and nine rebounds. McCourt added 11 points in the loss.
Both teams continue CCC play on Tuesday as Wentworth hosts Endicott and Roger Williams is at Gordon.
