Wentworth Leopards close strong to tip Nor'easters

December 01, 2007 - 02:35 PM

Chas Rentrope (above) scored 12 points on 6-for-13 shooting for the Nor'easters

Wentworth holds UNE to just three points over the final 4:14 to take a 54-51 win

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Trailing 48-46 with 4:14 to play, the Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards went on an 8-0 run to help secure a 54-51 victory over the University of New England Nor'easters in a men's basketball game played Saturday afternoon at the Campus Center.

After dropping their opening game of the season, the Leopards (3-1) have won three straight. The Nor'easters (2-4) suffered their fourth consecutive setback. The game was not considered a The Commonwealth Coast Conference game; the two teams will play again Feb. 6 in Boston in what will be their league contest.

A jumper by UNE's Johnnie Jefferson '09 (Dallas, Texas) broke the eighth tie of the game and gave the Nor'easters their final lead (48-46) with 4:14 remaining.

From there, the Leopards would control play down the stretch. Shane West '11 (Saco, Maine) made 1 of 2 free throws to slice Wentworth's deficit in half, then converted a lay-up with 3:16 on the clock to give the visitors the lead (49-48) for good.

Both teams would miss 3-point attempts on their next possessions before Brad Bryant '09 (Livermore, Maine) scored from inside with 1:54 left to push the Wentworth lead to 51-48.

UNE missed a free throw and four field goal attempts over its next two possessions, leading to Matt Abbott '10 (Falmouth, Mass.) and Sherrad Prezzie-Blue '08 (Norwalk, Conn.) making 3 of 4 free throws to give Wentworth a six-point advantage and seal the win.

Bryant finished with 14 points and six rebounds for the Leopards. Prezzie-Blue scored 12 points, while West added 11 and a pair of blocked shots.

Wentworth, which saw itself behind 28-22 at intermission, committed 16 of its 23 turnovers in the first half.

Jefferson finished the contest with a team-high 14 points and collared seven boards. Chas Rentrope '09 (Peoria, Ariz.) pitched in with 12 points and Jaykyri Simpson '09 (East Cleburne, Texas) had 10 ponits, four steals and three assists for UNE, which shot just 31.0 percent (9 of 29) from the floor in the second half and 35.7 percent (5 of 14) from the free throw line for the afternoon.

Wentworth will be looking to make it four straight Tuesday when it heads to Framingham State College for a non-conference match-up (5:30 p.m. start). The Nor'easters will be looking to halt their four-game skid when they play host to Wheelock College at 8:00 p.m.

(posted Dec, 1, 2007 | 16:08 ET)