Men’s Basketball’s Comeback Effort Falls Short in Double Overtime Thriller

BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half but ultimately fell 108-103 in double overtime against the University of New England Nor'Easters. Dylan Olson scored 18 points on 5-8 shooting from three and Jayden Williams added 18 points to go with a team-high six assists.

Donovan Holway tied a program record, shooting a perfect 7-7 from the field for 17 points on the night. Colin Mannke added 16 points and 12 rebounds to record his fifth double double of the season. Russel Dolabany also hit double figures, scoring 16 points on 6-12 shooting.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Dylan Olson and Chase Mello drained threes to open the half for the Leopards to give the visitors the early lead. The Nor'Easters answered with 11 straight points before Mannke's layup ended the run to cut the lead to three. Russel Dolabany's three-point play made it a two-point game before the hosts pushed the lead back to five behind Jayden Thornton's three. Donovan Holway and Davis Lunn came off the bench and knocked down threes to tie the game at 21 before both sides went scoreless for almost two minutes to reach the midway mark of the half.
• The teams exchanged buckets over the next five minutes with Sean Racette giving the Leopards a one-point edge with a driving layup with 5:23 to play in the first half. Racette hit the and-one to make it 33-31 before the Nor'Easters tied the game once again. Mannke's go-ahead layup was answered by a three from Adam Lux, as the hosts jumped in front with four minutes remaining. Jayden Williams knocked down a pair of free throws and Lunn and Olson hit shots in the final minutes as the Leopards took a 44-42 lead into the halftime break.
• Olson and Dolabany scored while the defense kept UNE off the board in the first few minutes of the half. Lux and Adrian Torres made buckets to tie the game before a three from Lux gave the Nor'Easters a 52-49 lead. The hosts went on a 12-2 run to extend their lead to 13 points. Wentworth cut the deficit down to eight at the midway point of the half with a pair of free throws from Racette.
• Jaelen Jackson and Lux made shots to push the lead to 14 points as the Leopards took a timeout with 7:41 to play. Olson knocked down his fourth triple of the night to push his tally to 14 and make it an 11-point game before Williams' driving layup cut the lead to single digits. Racette completed a three-point play and Williams hit two free throws to make it an eight point game with under five to go. Williams picked up a steal and after a foul, hit another pair of free throws to cut the lead down to six.
• Mannke came up with a big offensive board that led to a Holway jumper as the Leopards continued to chip away at the lead. Another big rebound on the defensive glass from Olson led to a Dolabany four-point play, tying game with just under three minutes left. Gabe Galarraga's three put the hosts back in front in the final two minutes of the contest. Olson's fifth triple of the night brought the Leopards within two points, and the Nor'Easters called timeout with 35 seconds to go. Williams was fouled with 0.1 seconds, sending him to the line to tie the game. The junior held his nerve and hit both shots, sending the game to overtime.
• Dolabany's layup put the Leopards in front to start the overtime period. Olson hit one of two from the line and Thornton's driving layup made it a 90-89 game. Torres gave the Nor'Easters the lead, the 13^th lead change of the night. Thornton hit free throws to give the hosts a three-point lead with a minute to go.
• After Thornton hit one of two, Olson grabbed the rebound and Mannke drained a three to make it 94-93 with 20 seconds remaining. After another pair of free throws from Thornton, Mannke knocked down a three with three seconds to play, tying the game and sending the contest into a second overtime.
• Dolabany hit a huge three to tie the game at 99-all with 2:20 to play in the second overtime. Lux completed a three-point play to give the hosts the lead in the final minute. After a pair of free throws from Galarraga, Williams finished a driving layup to make it a one possession game with 30 seconds left. Lux's jumper with 25 seconds remaining sealed the game as the Nor'Easters held on to win a 108-103 double overtime thriller.

THE SERIES

• Tonight was the 52nd all-time meeting between the teams.

NEXT UP

• The Leopards host Hartford on Saturday. 

For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on "X," Facebook and Instagram.