Carrier, Fernandez Score Career Highs as Men's Basketball Hands Nichols its First Loss

BOSTON, Mass. – Seniors Trey Carrier (Wilton, N.H.) and Kevin Fernandez (Lawrence, Mass.) each scored career highs, pouring in 31 and 28 points, respectively, as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team overtook Nichols, 95-79, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Tuesday night.

The Leopards improve to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in CCC play while the Bison, who were receiving votes in the most recent D3Hoops.com Men's Top 25 Poll, were handed their first loss, falling to 8-1 (2-1).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

LEADING SCORERS:  Trey Carrier, 31; Kevin Fernandez, 28
LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Jack Schaake, 12; Carrier, 7; Tyler Lennon, 6; Sam Goy, 6
ASSIST LEADERS:  Kyle Henseler, 5; Schaake, 4; Sam Swift, 4

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth jumped out to a 7-2 lead with junior Conor Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) hitting a three to open the game and Fernandez following with a pair of baskets. Using a 10-4 spurt, Nichols took a one-point (12-11) lead on a three-point play from senior Jakigh Dottin (Cambridge, Mass.).
• The Leopards reclaimed the lead and took a four-point (20-16) advantage as sophomore Sam Goy (Derry, N.H.) broke a 16-all tie with a pair of baskets. However, the Bison countered with an 8-0 run to take a 24-20 lead, thanks in part to a three pointer from senior Jack Cowan (Bedford, Mass.). The visitors upped their lead to as many as 10 with 4:53 left in the half after senior Jaekwon Spencer (Bristol, R.I.) hit a pair of free throws.
• Two free throws from Goy and a three from Carrier cut the lead to five before Spencer hit a jumper. Carrier answered with a layup of his own, which started a 7-0 run as senior Tyler Lennon (Atkinson, N.H.) made a layup and Fernandez followed with a three to knot the game at 34-all. A three-point play from Dottin gave Nichols a three-point cushion but Fernandez and Rubenskas scored baskets within 20 seconds of each other, giving Wentworth a 38-37 lead at the half.
• Wentworth opened the second half with layups from Carrier and Fernandez, making the lead five (42-37), just 1:26 into the half. Nichols pulled within one point on two occasions, including when freshman Tahmeen Dupree (Bristol, Conn.) hit two free throws with 11:53 left, making it 53-52. From there, the Leopards used an 18-4 run, taking a 15-point lead on a jumper from Fernandez with 6:21 left.
• The Leopards led, 74-58, after Carrier hit a three with 5:26 left before the Bison tried to get back into the game with back-to-back three pointers from senior Jason O'Regan (Charlton, Mass.) and Dupree, sandwiched around a basket from Carrier. A layup from junior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) and a three from Fernandez gave the Black & Gold their largest lead of the night (17), and, while Nichols closed the gap to 12 one last time, the Bison would get no closer.
• Wentworth shot 62.9 percent from the floor in the second half and held the Bison to 35.1 percent. For the game, the Leopards shot 46.8 percent and held the visitors to 36.6 percent while also holding a 47-41 rebounding advantage.
• In addition to his 31 points, Carrier, who was 13-for-18 from the floor, also grabbed seven rebounds. Fernandez was 10-for-18 from the floor and also dished out three assists. Goy finished in double digits with 10 points while Schaake grabbed 12 rebounds.
• Four players scored in double figures for Nichols, with Dottin leading the way (20 points, nine rebounds, five assists). Dupree chipped in with 19.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight marked the 51st all-time meeting between the two teams. Nichols leads 28-23 with Wentworth having won the last two series meetings.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth closes out first semester play on Wednesday, December 15, against New England College at 2:00 p.m.

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