MEN'S HOOPS FALLS TO WENTWORTH, 83-72

WESTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology men's basketball team earned their first victory of the season as they defeated Emmanuel College 83-72 during the consolation game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Greater Boston Shootout. The victory, the Leopards first of the season, evens the squads record at 1-1 while the Saints drop to 0-2 on the young campaign. 

The game was a physical affair as both teams combined for 62 personal fouls throughout the contest. Wentworth was efficient from three-point land and the charity stripe as they shot 47.6% from deep and 75% from the line. 

Senior guard Kyle Romich (Groton, Mass.) recorded a double-double with a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds and converted 10-of-11 free throw attempts. Senior big man Kyle Davis (Groveland, Mass.) led the Saints with a double-double of his own with 19 points and a game-high 16 caroms. 

Wentworth build an early 14-7 advantage early in the first half, but called a timeout after a Will Jessup (Westwood, Mass.) layup. The timeout was effective for the Leopards as the stoppage led to a 14-0 scoring run that was capped off by Ben Kizel's (Short Hills, N.J) jumper to increase the Wentworth lead to 26-9. 

Both teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half until Emmanuel used a corner jumper from Alex Minetti (Wakefield, R.I.), two free throws from the sophomore forward and a Julian Diggs (Upper Marlboro, Md.) layup to cut the Leopards lead to 14 points, 45-31 at the intermission. 

Davis and junior guard Kyle Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) came alive in the second stanza as they scored 16 points apiece for the Saints. 

Out of the gate Emmanuel put a lot of effort into closing the gap in the game. Senior forward John Clay (Westport, Mass.) drove through the lane and put a shot off the glass and into the net for an old fashioned three point play. Clay's bucket and foul shot was the start of a 9-3 run that cut the deficit to 10 points, 51-41 with 13:13 to play. 

Wentworth used a Romich three-ball to build their advantage back up to 14, but Emmanuel would outscore Wentworth 10-4 over a three minute span to trail by eight points, 60-52 with 5:52 left to play. 

The Leopards would put the nail in the coffin using an 11-2 scoring binge to build their lead back up to 17 points with 3:28 left to play. 

Sophomore guard Sam Knollmeyer (Hampton, N.H.) tallied 21 points on 4-of-4 shooting from downtown and a 9-of-12 effort from the free throw line. Knollmeyer also added six rebounds and three assists.

*Release courtesy of Regis College Sports Information