BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards shot 48.3 percent (14-for-29) from the floor after halftime and turned up the defensive pressure to help orchestrate a 13-point turnaround, on its way to securing a 59-49 victory over the University of New England men's basketball team in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) contest played Wednesday evening at James A. Beaudry Gymnasium.
Wentworth moves to 10-6 on the season (6-4 CCC) with the win, while the Nor'easters drop to 3-14 overall (3-7 CCC).
Senior Eric Prue (Auburn, Maine) and junior Colin Johnson (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) each tallied 12 points to lead the visitors, and combined for four of the team's five three-pointers. Prue also picked up five steals, while Johnson scored 10 of his points in the final period.
Leopards sophomore Derek Mayo (Casco, Maine) finished with eight points, nine assists, and four steals to help the winning cause. Junior Corey Therriault (Auburn, Maine) added nine points.
Pacing UNE was junior Charles Fenner III (Bronx, N.Y.) with a game-highs of 17 points and seven rebounds. Senior Marcus Winn (Austin, Texas) tossed in 13 points, including nine in the opening 20 minutes. Junior Alex Alsadi (Scottsdale, Ariz.) chipped in with 10 points.
The first half saw five lead-changes and neither team hold a cushion greater than five points. Big Blue fell behind, 5-0, in the early moments of the game, but after a trey from Fenner III at the 11:43 mark, the Nor'easters possessed a 15-10 advantage.
Then down 24-20 inside the last two minutes of the frame, UNE received a trifecta from Winn and two buckets by Alsadi to grab a three-point edge (27-24) at the break.
Winn extended the gap to five with the initial hoop of the second period, only to see the Leopards reel off 12 unanswered points to move in front for good (36-29). Five different players scored for Wentworth in the stretch.
UNE closed to within three on two occasions before the Leopards built their largest lead of the night (11) at 53-42 with 3:29 left.
Fenner III connected from deep a minute later to trim the margin to six (53-47), but a basket by Therriault and four free throws by Mayo kept Wentworth in control during the final minutes.
The Nor'easters were hampered in the second stanza by 27.6 percent (8 of 29) shooting and 16 turnovers.
Wentworth returns home for a date with Eastern Nazarene College on Saturday (3 p.m.), while UNE is set to visit Salve Regina University the same day and time.