Nichols jumped out to a quick 11-4 lead, as freshman forward Ron Powers (Millville, Mass.) scored seven of his team’s first 11 points. Wentworth would use a 13-4 run over the next 5:00 to take a 17-15 lead. The run was capped by a three-pointer from sophomore guard Troy Ramey (Newport, R.I.) and included four points from senior forward Carmino De Mercurio (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.).
Later in the half, with the score knotted at 26-all, the Bison used a 7-0 run over 1:59 to equal their largest lead of the half and were up 33-26 with 3:39 to play. Wentworth got the lead down to two on a three-pointer from Ramey and a layup from DeMercurio and trailed, 34-31, at the break.
The second half started back and forth with the lead changing hands seven times in the first 4:26. Nichols led by four (46-42) before Wentworth tied the game at 46-all on a baseline jumper from DeMercurio. That basket started a 10-2 run over the next 4:00 and gave Wentworth its largest lead at 54-48 with 11:50 left. DeMercurio and junior forward Frankie Hall (Boston, Mass.) each had four points during the run.
The lead would be short-lived, however, as the Bison used a 15-3 run over the next 3:28 to take a 63-57 lead with 8:22 left. Nichols would up its lead to as much as nine before Wentworth made one last run, closing the gap to three (72-69) with 4:39 left. The Bison put together a 9-2 spurt to take a 10-point lead and put the game away.
Freshman guard Jay Romano (Wethersfield, Conn.) led the Bison with 21 points. Nichols had five players in double figures on the night. Junior guard Casey Butler (East Longmeadow, Mass.) chipped in with 17, while senior guard Anthony Smith (Dover, N.J.) scored 15 and dished out 12 assists.
For Wentworth, DeMercurio scored 25 points (11-for-16), grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked three shots. Hall scored 18 and grabbed 10 boards.
At Tansey Gymnasium, Boston, Mass. NICHOLS 90, WENTWORTH 78 NICHOLS ((4-7, 2-4 CCC)) Jay Romano 8-11 2-5 21; Casey Butler 4-11 9-13 17; Jermaine Baskerville 6-7 1-2 15; Anthony Smith 6-9 1-3 15; Ron Powers 4-5 2-4 11; Justin Lewis 3-4 1-1 7; Dave Berkland 0-2 0-0 0; Scott LaTorra 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 31-50 20-32 90. WENTWORTH ((5-8, 3-2 CCC)) Carmino DeMercurio 11-16 3-4 25; Frankie Hall 9-23 0-0 18; Troy Ramey 4-6 2-2 13; Sherrad Prezzie-Blue 3-7 1-4 8; Ed Bolton 2-11 2-2 7; Matt Zeszotek 1-2 0-0 2; Morey Frydman 1-2 0-0 2; Jason DaCosta 0-1 2-2 2; Bryan Gaine 0-1 1-1 1; Robert Fernandes 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 31-70 11-15 78. Nichols....................... 34 56 - 90 Wentworth..................... 31 47 - 78 3-point goals-Nichols 8-12 (Jay Romano 3-4; Anthony Smith 2-3; Jermaine Baskerville 2-2; Ron Powers 1-1; Dave Berkland 0-1; Casey Butler 0-1), Wentworth 5-12 (Troy Ramey 3-5; Ed Bolton 1-4; Sherrad Prezzie-Blue 1-3). Fouled out--Nichols-None, Wentworth-Carmino DeMercurio; Ed Bolton. Rebounds-Nichols 33 (Anthony Smith 7), Wentworth 34 (Frankie Hall 10). Assists-Nichols 26 (Anthony Smith 12), Wentworth 25 (Troy Ramey 8). Total fouls-Nichols 15, Wentworth 24. A-120