NEWPORT, R.I. – Senior Dan DeVaux (Wethersfield, Conn.) and freshman Stephen Azums (Hyde Park, Mass.) each scored 17 points to lead four players in double figures as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team cruised to a 73-48 win over Salve Regina in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Wednesday night.
Winners of three straight the Leopards even their record at 11-11 overall and are 9-6 in CCC play while the Seahawks fall to 8-13 (6-9).
A layup from freshman Matt Vartanian (Salem, N.H.) and a three from DeVaux gave the visitors the early, 5-0 lead. With Wentworth holding an 11-8 lead, Salve Regina used a 9-3 run to take a 17-14 lead on a sophomore Isaiah Bowman (Roxbury, Mass.) three pointer. Consecutive three pointers from DeVaux and a layup from Azums ignited a 15-2 run which gave the Leopards a 29-19 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the frame.
Four points in 50 seconds cut the lead to six (29-23) with 1:48 remaining, however junior Ben Kizel (Short Hills, N.J.) hit a three and Azums hit one of two free throws to push the lead back to double figures at the break.
The teams traded baskets in the first minute of play in the second half and Vartanian gave Wentworth a 39-27 lead. Salve Regina responded with a three-point play from junior Rodney Morton (Malden, Mass.) to cut the lead to single digits but Wentworth extended its lead with a 24-1 run, taking a 63-31 lead on a junior Michael Boaheng (Worcester, Mass.) free throw.
With 7:18 left, Morton hit a jumper ending a span of 10 and a half minutes the Seahawks were held without a field goal.
The Leopards shot 61.5 percent from the floor in the second half while holding Salve Regina to 30.4 percent.
Azums was 8-for-10 from the floor, while DeVaux, who also had six rebounds, was 6-for-10, which included going 5-for-9 from behind the arc. Kizel had 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists and Vartanian notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. For the game Wentworth shot 52.7 percent and owned the battle of the board, 37-19.
Morton led Salve Regina with 18 points while Bowman had 12 points and senior Nicholas Bates (Danvers, Mass.) added 11.
Wentworth hosts Gordon on Saturday in a key CCC matchup. The two teams are presently tied for fourth in league play.
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