Statistics
Highlights

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Stephen Azums and Ben Kizel combined for 51 points to pace Wentworth Institute of Technology in a 97-89 decision against the University of New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball action Thursday night (Jan. 11) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The Leopards took the advantage for good with 7:31 left (74-73) and four free throws stretched the gap to nine (93-84) at the 0:46 mark. The Nor'easters managed to trim away more than half of the deficit (93-89) in the next 27 seconds, but Jason Ganley made 4-of-4 at the charity stripe to seal it for WIT.

Azums recorded a double-double of 27 points and 16 rebounds; his six offensive caroms contributed significantly to a 12-of-17 shooting performance. Kizel and Ganley accounted for nine freebies apiece to end with 24 and 15 points, respectively, and Sam Knollmeyer added 10. Matt Vartanian totaled eight points and eight boards.

While UNE had a 24-point scoring cushion from behind the arc, Wentworth out-scored its opponent by 18 on two-point field goals and by 14 (30-of-50) at the line.

For the Nor'easters (4-9, 2-4 CCC), Matt Hobbs led the way with 15 points and four of the team's 13 three-pointers. Alex Kravchuk notched 14 points, and Matt Lorman tossed in 11 more. Drew Coveney, Daron Hoges, Jr., and Jackson McCoy shared the squad-high of six rebounds.

UNE had the majority of the lead in the early-going, but seven from Kizel guided a 13-0 run that swung the Leopards in front (32-22). The difference peaked at 12 (52-40) before the Nor'easters recorded the last eight of the half to only trail 52-48 at intermission. Kravchuk and Hobbs canned back-to-back triples in the spurt.

Big Blue welcomes in Western New England University on Saturday (3 p.m.).