Men's Basketball Notches Fifth Straight Win with Comeback Triumph over Salve Regina

BOSTON, Mass. – Trailing by 21 points with 4:43 left in the first half and by 18 with 15:58 left in the contest, the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team stormed back to force overtime and defeated Salve Regina, 85-77, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Thursday night.

Five players scored in double figures for the Leopards, who improved to 11-3 overall and 4-1 in CCC play while the Seahawks slip to 3-9 (0-4).

THE BASICS:

LEADING SCORERS:  Kevin Fernandez, 21; Trey Carrier, 20; Noah Bice, 15; Jack Schaake, 13; Kyle Henseler, 10
LEADING REBOUNDER:  Trey Carrier, 10; Jack Schaake, 10
ASSIST LEADER:  Kevin Fernandez, 6

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Salve Regina used a 17-4 run to turn a one-point lead into a 14-point advantage, which was capped off by a steal and transition layup from sophomore Mikey Spencer (Abington, Mass.) with 11:16 left in the first half. The Seahawks built their lead to 21 (40-19) with 4:43 left on a three pointer from senior Tyler Benjamin (Fitchburg, Mass.).
• Wentworth scored the next six points – four of which coming from freshman Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) – to close the lead to 15 two minutes later. After a three pointer from sophomore Mike Palmieri (Bristol, Conn) 29 seconds later, the Leopards used a layup from junior Kyle Henseler (Coventry, R.I.) and two free throws from junior Trey Carrier (Wilton, N.H.) to make it a 14-point game (43-29) at the half.
• The first half saw Salve Regina shoot 56.7 percent from the floor, which included connecting on 5-of-8 shots from behind the arc while Wentworth shot just 33.3 percent from the floor.
• Less than two minutes into the second half, the Black & Gold cut the cut to 11 on a three-point play from Carrier before Salve Regina built its lead to 18, capped off by a pair of free throws from junior Cameron Collins (Oakdale, Conn.).
• The Leopards used a 12-0 run over the next five and a half minutes to cut the lead to six with sophomore Noah Bice (Woodacre, Calif.) draining a pair of threes and adding a layup in the run to help the Wentworth cause. Wentworth pulled the lead down to four on a pair of occasions, including on a layup from sophomore Kevin Fernandez (Lawrence, Mass.) with 7:38 left. A four-point play from Benjamin doubled the Seahawk lead 22 seconds later and Salve Regina found itself leading by nine (64-55) with 5:20 left.
• Wentworth cut the lead to one on a three from Fernandez and, after sophomore Chris Peasley (Plainfield, Conn.) made a layup to go up three, Schaake converted a three-point play with 57 seconds left to tie the game at 68-all. Wentworth had a chance to win at the end of regulation, however, Bice's three ball attempt was off the mark.
• Carrier hit one of two free throws to open the Leopards' fourth overtime tilt of the season before sophomore Andrew Richards (Rosedale, N.Y.) put the Seahawks ahead, 70-69 with 4:15 left. Bice countered with a three pointer to start a 10-1 run and would give the Leopards a 79-71 lead with 1:20 left, a lead they would not relinquish.
• Fernandez led all scorers with 21 points to go along with six assists. Carrier notched a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Bice scored 15, Schaake scored 13 and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Henseler added 10 points. Wentworth shot 50 percent in both the second half and overtime while Salve Regina was forced to shoot 26.9 percent in the second half and 27.3 percent in the extra session, getting outscored 56-34 in the final 25 minutes.
• Collins finished with 20 points while Spencer added 19.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight marked the 65th all-time meeting between the two programs. Wentworth has won the last two and 11 of the last 12 series meetings to cut the Salve Regina series edge to 33-32.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth hosts Western New England on Saturday (January 11) at 3:00 p.m.

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