BOSTON, Mass. – Paced by five student-athletes scoring in double figures, the fourth-seeded Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team advanced to the semifinal round of the 2023 Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament with a 72-60 win over fifth-seeded Suffolk in quarterfinal round action at Tansey Gymnasium.

The Leopards advance to the semifinals for the second time in the last three seasons and pick up their 17th win of the season, topping the most wins in a season in head coach Arlen Galloway's tenure.

RECORDS:
Suffolk (16-10)
Wentworth (17-9)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

WENTWORTH LEADING SCORERS:  Tyler Stewart, 15; Jack Connell, 15; Nathan Brinkman, 14; Conor Rubenskas, 12; Jack Schaake, 11
WENTWORTH LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Schaake, 8; Stewart, 8
WENTWORTH ASSIST LEADERS:  Schaake, 4; Connell, 4

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Four points from sophomore Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) and a layup from classmate Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.) gave Wentworth an early, 6-0, lead. Suffolk sophomore Cole LeVangie (Whitman, Mass.) scored the next five points to pull the Rams within one with 16:20 left. The Leopards quickly responded with eight straight points, capped off by a three-point play from senior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) to give the Black & Gold a 14-5 lead.
• Schaake gave Wentworth its largest lead of the half (11; 21-10) when he buried a jumper with 11:20 left. Suffolk pulled to within six on three occasions and trailed, 33-26, win 2:53 left before freshman Nathan Brinkman (Trumbull, Conn.) hit a three and, after a sophomore Keenan Robertson (Rochester, N.Y.) free throw, Stewart made a layup to match the largest lead of the half (38-27) with 1:25 to play. The Rams scored the final five points of the half, with Wentworth holding a 38-32 edge at the break.
• Suffolk pulled within five early in the second half on an Robertson three points, however, Wentworth responded with a 12-4 run, taking a 14-point (55-41) lead with 13:23 left. The Black & Gold maintained a double digit lead throughout most of the remainder of the half, leading by as many as 15 (67-52) when Rubenskas hit a three with 6:05 left. Using an 8-2 run, Suffolk closed to within nine on a LeVangie three with 1:43 left. Suffolk got the ball back after a Leopard turnover, however, were unable to get closer.
• Stewart and Connell each scored 15 points, with Stewart grabbing eight rebounds and recording four steals. Brinkman scored 14 points, Rubenskas added a dozen, and Schaake scored 11, grabbed eight rebounds, and four assists. Robertson led all scorers with 22 points.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight marked the 20th all-time meeting between the two teams, with Wentworth winning the last two series meetings to hold a 12-8 series lead. This was the first-ever postseason matchup in the series.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth will head to top-seeded Nichols on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.