UNE came out fast and took a nine-point (14-5) lead with 14:26 to play in the first half, paced by four points apiece from senior forward Nyaten Gaye (Providence, R.I.) and sophomore forward Tom Button (Lyndeborough, N.H.). However, Wentworth used a 10-0 run to take a 15-14 lead, keyed by Bolton’s three free throws with 12:43 left and three points from junior forward Morey Frydman (Thornhill, Ont.). After the Nor’Easters increased their lead to five on two separate occasions, including 22-17 with 8:08 left, Wentworth held UNE scoreless for the next 5:08 and had a 32-22 lead with 3:12 to play. The Nor’Easters would eventually chip away at the lead and the Leopards led by five (36-31) at the break.
Wentworth built its lead back up to 10 (50-40) on a Bolton trifecta with 12:17 left, but UNE would not go away easily, using a 20-5 run over the next 6:30 to lead by five (60-55) with 5:42 left. Junior guard Mark Oliver (Gloucester, Mass.) had seven points during that stretch.
Trailing 62-57 with 5:03 left, the Leopards used an 11-2 run, including back-to-back three-pointers by Bolton and freshman guard Sherrad Prezzie-Blue (Norwalk, Conn.). Prezzie-Blue’s trey gave the Leopards a 67-64 lead – a lead they would not relinquish.
A layup by junior guard Matt McManus (Cumberland, R.I.) cut the lead to 67-66, but Wentworth hit 10-of-12 free throws down the stretch to take the game.
Prezzie-Blue and freshman guard Jason DaCosta (Cambridge, Mass.) each chipped in with 13 points for Wentworth. UNE was led by Oliver, who scored a game-high 26 points, to go along with eight rebounds and six assists.
WENTWORTH 77, UNIV. OF NEW ENGLAND 68 At Tansey Gymnasium, Boston, Mass. UNIV. OF NEW ENGLAND (3-2, 0-1 CCC) Mark Oliver 10-16 5-7 26; Nick Farynaz 6-10 2-3 14; Nyaten Gaye 4-12 2-2 10; Mark Regis 3-12 0-0 7; Matt McManus 2-11 0-0 5; John Marriott 0-4 2-5 2; Tom Button 1-4 0-2 2; Randall Thomas 1-1 0-0 2; Mike Warner 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-71 11-19 68. WENTWORTH (2-5, 1-0 CCC) Ed Bolton 4-10 7-7 17; Jason DaCosta 3-11 7-12 13; Sherrad Prezzie-Blue 4-9 4-10 13; Troy Ramey 3-7 1-2 10; Carmino DeMercurio 3-5 2-5 8; Morey Frydman 3-6 1-2 7; Frankie Hall 3-7 1-3 7; Matt Zeszotek 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 24-58 23-41 77. Univ. of New England.......... 31 37 - 68 Wentworth..................... 36 41 - 77 3-point goals-Univ. of New England 3-19 (Mark Regis 1-8; Matt McManus 1-5; Mark Oliver 1-3; John Marriott 0-1; Nyaten Gaye 0-2), Wentworth 6-14 (Troy Ramey 3-7; Ed Bolton 2-3; Sherrad Prezzie-Blue 1-3; Matt Zeszotek 0-1). Fouled out--Univ. of New England-Nick Farynaz, Wentworth-None. Rebounds-Univ. of New England 46 (Matt McManus 9; Tom Button 9), Wentworth 49 (Frankie Hall 11). Assists-Univ. of New England 18 (Mark Oliver 6), Wentworth 15 (Matt Zeszotek 5). Total fouls-Univ. of New England 26, Wentworth 22. A-225