BOSTON, Mass. – A pair of sophomore Ben Kizel (Short Hills, N.J.) free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining proved to be the difference as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team squeaked by Salve Regina, 54-53, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Saturday afternoon at Tansey Gymnasium.
With the win the Leopards, who improve to 13-10 overall and 11-5 in league play, clinched a home game in the quarterfinal round of the CCC Tournament on Feb. 23 while the Seahawks dropped their fourth straight to stand at 8-15 (5-11).
After senior Barrett Hanlon (Hopkinton, Mass.) made a layup with 15:16 left in the first half to make it a two-point game, Wentworth used a 15-4 run an took a 23-10 lead after a sophomore Jason Ganley (Northbridge, Mass.) layup with 8:22 left. Ganley had eight of his team's 15 points during that stretch. Salve Regina would outscore the Leopards 12-0 over the next 7:05 and pulled within a single point on a junior Nicholas Bates (Danvers, Mass.) layup. A Kizel three with 1:15 left end the run and sophomore Sam Knollmeyer hit one of two free throws to give the hosts a 27-22 lead at the break.
Ganley made a layup and a senior Kyle Romich (Groton, Mass.) three pointer swelled the lead to 10 and a junior Dan DeVaux (Wethersfield, Conn.) shot from behind the arc gave Wentworth a 35-24 lead with 16:01 remiaining.
Salve Regina answered with an 11-0 run of its own and tied the game on a sophomore Bryce Boggs (Hyde Park, Mass.) layup with 12:10 left. Ganley put the Leopards back on top with a trifecta, however the Seahawks scored the six points to take a 41-38 lead on two Hanlon free throws with 8:35 left.
The Seahawks held a 45-44 lead after a pair of sophomore Rodney Morton (Malden, Mass.) free throws with 3:14 left, however Ganley answered with a layup to give Wentworth the lead for the final time. That basket by Ganley marked the first of two of six straight points for the sophomore as he have the hosts a 50-45 lead with 32 seconds remaining.
Hanlon hit two free throws with 11 seconds left to make it a three-point game and Romich countered with two of his own with 9.3 ticks left. On the next possession, Morton hit a three pointer to cut the lead to a pair with 3.8 seconds left, and, after a time out, Kizel was fouled and hit both free throws.
Ganley led all scorers with 26 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Romich added seven points while senior Ian Therriault (Auburn, Maine) had five points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Hanlon had a double-double for the Seahawks, scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Morton added 12 points and five rebounds and Boggs had 11 points and six rebounds. Salve Regina was held to 29.8 percent shooting on the afternoon.
Prior to the game, Romich and Therriault were recognized as a part of senior day festivities.
Wentworth is at Endicott Tuesday night. That same night, Salve Regina hosts Western New England.
