Buzzer-Beating Heroics Lift Men's Basketball in Season-Opening Win Over Wheaton

BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman Tommy Dooling (Mansfield, Mass.) had a collegiate debut to remember, draining the game-winning three pointer at the buzzer as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team kicked off the 2019-2020 campaign with a wild, 108-107, double-overtime win over Wheaton.

THE BASICS:

LEADING SCORERS:  Gavin Keough, 23; Tommy Dooling, 21; Kyle Henseler, 18
LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Stephen Azums, 16
ASSIST LEADER:  Tommy Dooling, 8

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Six players scored in double figures for the Black & Gold, including junior Gavin Keough (Dunstable, Mass.), who tallied 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor, and senior Stephen Azums (Hyde Park, Mass.) who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds. Dooling finished his collegiate debut with 21 points and eight assists.
• Wentworth was in control early, taking a 15-4 lead after Dooling made a layup in transition with 13:40 remaining. After Wheaton brought the lead to seven on a pair of occasions, including on a three pointer from freshman Ben Silvia (Barrington, R.I.) with 10:43 left, the Leopards went on a 9-0 run with Dooling draining a three off a feed from junior Kyle Henseler (Coventry, R.I.). The Lyons pulled back to within six with 4:25 remaining, thanks to a three from senior Alex DuBrow (Foxboro, Mass.), however, two free throws from Azums with eight seconds left in the half gave the hosts a 45-33 lead at the break. Wentworth shot 58.1 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes.
• The Leopards opened the second half on a 15-4 run and took a 60-37 lead with 16:28 left, thanks to a three pointer from Keough. After senior Robby Lowey (Foxboro, Mass.) made a layup, Azums put the hosts back ahead by 23. Wheaton chipped away at the Leopard lead and used a 10-2 run to pull within three with 33 seconds left after a three pointer from freshman Evan Cook (Dunstable, Mass.). One of two free throws from junior Tyler Lennon (Atkinson, N.H.) gave Wentworth an 88-84 lead, however, DuBrow connected on a layup on the next possession to bring the Lyons within a pair. Two missed free throws gave Wheaton the ball with 16 seconds left after freshman Aaron Williams (Springfield, Mass.) grabbed a defensive rebound. With four seconds left, DuBrow found Lowey, who tied the game at 88-all.
• The first overtime was a back-and forth affair, with three ties and a pair of lead changes. Wentworth took an early lead when Keough drained a three and led again, 96-93, after a junior Kyle Henseler (Coventry, R.I.) three pointer. Williams brought the Lyons within one after a layup and, after a turnover, Cook gave his team the lead. Azums gave Wentworth a 98-97 lead with a jumper and two free throws from Henseler gave the Black & Gold a 100-97 lead with 11 seconds left. However, with one second left in the first overtime, freshman Mike Perry (Attleboro, Mass.) hit a three to send the game to a second overtime.
• Wheaton took a four-point lead with 2:18 left in the second overtime, as Williams hit two free throws and Cook converted a transition layup. A Henseler three and one of two free throws from freshman Conor Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) gave Wentworth a 105-104 lead with 1:30 left in the second overtime. With 12 ticks left, Williams made a layup on a second-chance bid and converted the three-point play after he was fouled to give Wheaton a 107-105 lead.
• The Leopards called time out with eight seconds left, and out of the time out, Dooling got the ball along the right side and drained the game-winner as time expired.
• Five players scored in double figures for the Lyons, including Williams who went for a game-high 24 in his collegiate debut.

THE SERIES:

• With the win Wentworth evens the all-time series between the two schools at 1-all.

NOTES:

• Wentworth made a program-record 17 three pointers in the game. The Leopards connected on 17-of-30 shots from behind the arc, including going 6-for-10 in the second half.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards travel to Framingham State on Tuesday night for an 8:00 p.m. tip against the Rams.

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