BOSTON, Mass. – A pair of free throws from sophomore Jason Ganley (Northbridge, Mass.) with 45 seconds left gave the Wentworth Institute of technology men's basketball team a 63-62 lead over Curry and the Leopards would hold on for a 66-63 final in a Commonwealth Coast Conference contest played at Tansey Gymnasium.
With the win the Leopards improve to 3-4 overall and sit at 2-1 in CCC play while the Colonels fall to 0-9 (0-3).
The Leopards opened the game by scoring the first five points as Ganley converted a layup and senior Ian Therriault (Auburn, Maine) buried a 3-point shot. Curry used a 13-0 run over the next 6:18 to take a 13-5 lead, and, after Therriault's basket cut the deficit to eight, the Colonels went on an 11-2 run, taking a 24-9 lead after freshman Rael Handy (North Easton, Mass.) hit two free throws.
Therriault and senior Paul Preziosi (Quincy, Mass.) traded three pointers which gave Curry a 29-16 lead with 5:53 left and Handy added to the lead when he hit one of two free throws with 5:15 left.
Sophomore Cesar Fulcar (Watertown, Mass.), Romich, and Therriault scored on consecutive Wentworth possessions to make it 30-22 with 2:10 left, however sophomore Damani Carter's (Miami, Fla.) layup with 42 seconds left would give the visitors a 32-22 lead at the break.
Curry built its second half lead to 13 in the early stages before an 8-3 spurt – capped off by a Ganley basket – made it a 44-36 game with 15:40 to play. Six straight points, including four from Preziosi, pushed the lead to 50-36 with 13:16 to play. Two free throws from sophomore Jovanny Lamisere (Watertown, Mass.) and back-to-back baskets from Fulcar brought the Leopards to within eight with 11:32 left.
Handy buried a three pointer and Preziosi hit a layup which pushed the lead to 13 before an 11-3 run made it 58-53 with 4:33 left. Junior Dan DeVaux (Wethersfield, Conn.) converted a second-chance opportunity, and, on the next possession, caused a turnover and fed freshman Dylan Reno (Franklin, Mass.) for the fast break layup.
Ganley pulled Wentworth within three with a layup with 2:26 left before Preziosi hit two free throws to make it a five-point contest. Romich brought Wentworth within three with 1:49 left and would hit two of three free throws with 1:34 left, which brought the Black & Gold within a point. Romich then gave the hosts a lead with 1:26 left on a layup.
Carter quickly answered to give Curry a 62-61 lead with 53 seconds left before Ganley gave Wentworth the lead for good on the next possession. One of two Fulcar free throws made it 64-62 with 26 seconds left and Preziosi cut the lead in half with a free throw 10 seconds later. Sophomore Ben Kizel (Short Hills, N.J.) was fouled on Wentworth's next possession and would hit both free throws to make it a three-point game with 12 seconds left.
The Colonels worked the ball into the frontcourt, however a pass was deflected deep into the backcourt as the seconds ticked down. Curry's half court attempt at the buzzer to tie the game was short giving the Leopards the win.
Ganley led four players in double figures as he scored 17 points. Therriault added 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Romich and Reno had 10 apiece. Romich also had five rebounds and four assists and Reno added four rebounds and two steals. Wentworth had a 43-37 rebounding edge.
Preziosi led all scorers with 22 points to go along with five rebounds. Handy had 10 points and four assists and senior Tim Flanagan (Providence, R.I.) added 10 points and four rebounds.
Wentworth closes out first semester play at home on Saturday against Lesley while Curry is at Wesleyan on Thursday.
