Men’s Basketball Advances in CNE Tourney, Takes Down Wentworth, 87-78

BOSTON – The third-seeded Suffolk men's basketball team shot 66.7 percent from 3-point range in the second half to take control of a back-and-forth affair and defeat sixth-seeded Wentworth, 87-78, in the First Round of the Conference of New England (CNE) in front of a sold out crowd at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court Tuesday night.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 87 | Wentworth 78
RECORDS: Suffolk (19-7) | Wentworth (9-17)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
In a first half that featured 15 lead changes and six tied scores, Suffolk went into the locker room down three, 36-33.  

The teams went hoop-for-hoop to get the second stanza underway. Out of the 10th tie of the game, 46-all at the 16:05 mark, Suffolk went ahead by two possessions, 58-51 thanks to back-to-back triples by Cole LeVangie. 

The Leopards responded with an 11-2 run to sneak in front by two, 62-60, at the midway point, which forced Jeff Juron to take a timeout.

The Rams rallied in the huddle and scored 11 unanswered to build a nine-point advantage, 71-62, with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. 

Suffolk held onto a 71-66 edge as the final media timeout of the game was called at the 3:47 mark.  

Whatever Juron said to his team in this break ignited an 11-0 Rams spurt to lengthen the lead to 14, 82-66, with 2:02 remaining.

Wentworth did not go down without a fight, however, as it cut the distance down to six, 83-77, with 25 seconds left. 

The game would be decided at the free throw line and Suffolk let the Leopards have hope as they missed three down the stretch. Luckily for the blue-and-gold time expired and it sealed its semifinal spot, 87-78. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Nick Verdile was lights out in the second half with six triples to finish with seven for the game en route to a game-high 27 points. He went 8-for-12 including a 7-for-11 effort from behind-the-arc, that included a 6-for-7 performance in the second stanza. His stat line featured two assists, two boards and two steals as well. 
• Keenan Robertson registered 22 points on an 8-for-15 effort from the floor. He added eight caroms, three dimes and one block. 
• Cole LeVangie logged 15 points with a 5-for-7 performance on the long ball to go along with eight rebounds, eight assists and one steal. 
• Danny Yardemian supplied an all-around effort of 14 points, eight boards, five helpers and one takeaway. 
• Suffolk shot 48.3 percent on the night, 51.7 percent (15-29) from downtown and 58.3 percent (14-24) from the charity stripe. 
• The Leopards outrebounded the Rams, 39-35. 
• Wentworth, who saw two players produced 20-plus points in Tyler Stewart (23) and Jack Connell (24), out rebounded the rams, 39-35.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk made its 20th overall postseason trip, 12th straight conference tournament appearance and competed in the CNE tournament for the fourth time. 
• The Rams competed as the third seed in the CNE Tourney for the first time and second time overall, first since 2001. 
• Suffolk moved onto the semifinals for the seventh time and second straight season. 
• It is the first time that the Rams will compete in back-to-back semis since 2001 and 2002.
• Suffolk improved to 4-3 in the CNE Tournament all-time. 
• Suffolk hosted a CNE postseason game for the second time, first since 2022. 
• The Rams are unbeaten, 2-0, at home in the CNE postseason. 
• Suffolk faced Wentworth in the CNE postseason for the second time, first since 2023. 
• The Rams bested the Leopards in the conference playoffs for the first time. 
• Suffolk moved to 1-1 against WIT in the CNE postseason. 
• The blue-and-gold defeated Wentworth in back-to-back battles for the first time since stringing four wins together Feb. 13, 1996 to Feb. 16, 1999.
• Suffolk is now 14-11 all-time against Wentworth. 
• The Rams moved to 7-4 at home versus the Leopards. 
• The Rams improved to 7-4 against the Leopards under Juron's guidance. 
• Verdile notched personal-bests in points (27), 3-pointers made (7), and field goals made (8). 
• LeVangie tallied a career-high eight helpers.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk moves on and will take its talents to second seed Endicott for a semifinals showdown Thursday, Feb. 27.