Balanced Attack Paces Men's Basketball Past New England College

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Thomas Hacker (Averill Park, N.Y.) led a balanced attack with 11 points off the bench as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team defeated New England College, 72-58, in a non-conference contest Sunday afternoon.

RECORDS:
New England College (2-13)
Wentworth (8-7)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

WENTWORTH LEADING SCORERS:  Thomas Hacker, 11; Tyler Stewart, 10; Sam Swift, 9; Nathan Brinkman, 9
WENTWORTH LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Stewart, 7; Schaake, 5; Hacker, 4
WENTWORTH ASSIST LEADERS:  Stewart, 4; Schaake, 3; Jack Simonton, 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A back and forth start to the game saw Wentworth take a three-point lead (11-8) after freshman Nathan Brinkman (Trumbull, Conn.) hit a three pointer. The teams continued to trade baskets with New England College taking a 20-18 lead on a sophomore Marquez Rather (Waldorf, Md.) layup with 7:20 remaining. Senior Sam Swift responded with a three to give the Black & Gold a 21-20 lead, followed by one of two free throws from sophomore Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.), making it a two-point game.
• Pilgrim freshman Stravis Lutchman (Bradenton, Fla.) made a layup to tie the game for the eighth time of the half and the game would be tied two more times before a three-point play from Hacker gave Wentworth a 28-25 lead with 2:31 left. Hacker's three-point play started a 7-0 run as he made a jumper with 1:07 left and senior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) put down a dunk with 39 ticks to play, giving the Leopards a 32-25 lead at the break.
• Senior Sam Swift (Arlington, Mass.) opened the second half with a three pointer, giving Wentworth a double-digit lead for the first time in the game. After the teams traded baskets on two possessions, a dunk in transition by Stewart off a Swift rebound started a 17-5 run, with the hosts taking a 56-34 lead after freshman Russell Dolabany (Westwood, Mass.) hit two free throws.
• The Leopards took their largest lead of the contest (67-41) on a junior Sam Goy (Derry, N.H.) three with 6:15 remaining. New England College whittled the lead down to as few as 13 with a minute to play, however, would get no closer.
• In addition to Hacker's 11 points, Stewart had 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the foor, while Swift and Brinkman each had nine points. Wentworth shot 57.7 percent from the floor for the game and had a 33-26 rebounding advantage.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today was the 36th meeting between the two teams. Wentworth has won the last eight series meetings and lead the all-time series, 23-13.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at Roger Williams Wednesday night.

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