BOSTON -- Wentworth Institute of Technology made 5-of-6 free throws in the final 28 seconds to post a 44-40 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball decision against the University of New England on Wednesday evening (Nov. 30) at Tansey Gymnasium.

The Nor'easters sat on a 40-39 cushion for more than three minutes down the stretch, as neither side could find the range. The Leopards missed five shots on their next four possessions, while UNE had three misses and two turnovers in as many trips. Ben Kizel then gave the hosts an edge with a pair at the charity stripe.

Big Blue came up empty on its next two tries, and Wentworth padded the lead with three freebies from Matt Vartanian.

Sam Knollmeyer guided the Leopards (2-2, 1-0 CCC) with 12 points and seven rebounds. Jason Ganley went for 11 points, and Vartanian nine to go with a game-best 11 boards. WIT out-rebounded its opponent by a 56-42 margin.

For UNE (1-5, 0-1 CCC), Sam Thomas and Daron Hoges, Jr. had eight points; Thomas also corralled a team-high eight rebounds.

Both sides struggled shooting the ball all night, combining to make less than 25 percent (31-for-126) of the game's attempts.

The difference was no more than four, either way, during the 1st half, which ended with the Nor'easters ahead, 23-21. The Leopards gained the largest lead of the contest at 37-32 with 8:51 remaining, before Thomas layed in two baskets and Hoges sank two at the line to swing UNE in front (38-37) at the 5:41 mark.

Big Blue is slated to entertain Salve Regina University on Saturday (3 p.m.).