BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England pumped in a season-high point total to defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 125-109, in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball action Tuesday night (Dec. 4) at the Harold Alfond Forum.
With the win, the Nor'easters snap a five-game slide and improve to 2-6 overall (1-1 CCC). The Leopards drop back to 2-5 on the year, 1-2 in league outings.
UNE separated from the visitors during a span of just over 10 minutes in the middle of the 2nd half, turning a one-point edge (78-77) into a 114-94 cushion with 3:28 to go.
Play was back-and-forth in the 1st frame (43-41) until five points apiece from Gavin Keough and Trey Carrier staked Wentworth to a 53-43 advantage. The spread was still 10 with a little more than three minutes before halftime, however the Nor'easters closed the period on a 13-5 run to draw back within two (63-61).
Alex Kravchuk started the final stanza with a three-point play to slip the hosts in front, and a triple by Jackson McCoy moments later put UNE ahead for good (68-67).
Kravchuk topped the Nor'easters with 16 points, while Avery DeBrito and Drake Gavin contributed 15 and 11, respectively. Jordan Bagshaw and Noah Malone combined for 21 points in support, with another nine from both McCoy and Kyle Frank, who dished out six assists. Drew Patno corralled a team-high nine rebounds.
UNE out-scored WIT by 11 from behind the arc, dropping in 19-of-44 long-range attempts. The Nor'easters' weren't quite as efficient shooting the ball as were the Leopards (56%-47%), but Wentworth was hampered by 30 turnovers in the match -- 12 more than its opponent.
The visitors were paced by a double-double of 28 points and 13 rebounds from Stephen Azums. Carrier tossed in 26 points and Keough registered 17.