Men’s Basketball Falls in Overtime to Johnson & Wales, 69-65

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – In a game that featured 22 lead changes and 15 ties, Suffolk men's basketball came out on the wrong side of a 69-65 overtime decision to Johnson & Wales Wednesday night in Conference of New England Play at the Wildcat Center. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 65 | Johnson & Wales 69
RECORDS: Suffolk (11-8, 7-3 CNE) | Johnson & Wales (3-16, 2-8 CNE)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Suffolk found itself ahead 13-8, in part to five points from Harrison Neil and four from James Jones with 14:33 to play in the opening half.
• JWU responded with a 6-0 run behind three-point make from Azariah Harrison and Landon Bodington to take a 14-13 lead. The Rams answered with a 6-0 run of their own, sparked by a three-pointer from Jordan Morganstein, the make it 19-14 at the 8:13 mark.
• It was the Wildcats' turn for a run as they embarked on a 7-0 spurt to move ahead 21-19.
• An eight-point scoring burst from Nick Verdile kept the Rams within striking distance, as the final seven minutes featured three lead changes and four tires, caped by a Neil triple with two seconds remaining to knot the game at 30-30 at halftime.
• Neither side could gain a edge in the second half, as the teams traded baskets and free throws throughout. No team led by more than four points, with Suffolk's largest lead coming with three minutes remaining when Neil knocked down a three pointer to make it 62-58. JWU answered with clutch jumpers from Harrison and Alvin Baez, tying the game at 62 and sending it into overtime. Nick Verdile led Suffolk with 14 second-half points to keep the Rams in it.
• Suffolk struggled in the overtime period, scoring only three points, while Dylan Hooter scored the final four points for the Wildcats, securing a 69-65 victory.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Verdile led Suffolk with 22 points and three rebounds.
• Neil added 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in his first start of the season.
• Greg Keane contributed nine points and six blocks.
• Jones finished with seven points and nine boards, while first-year backcourt duo Hatcher Nordquist tallied seven points and a team-high six assists.

NOTEWORTHY

• Connor Strickland pulled down a career-high nine rebounds.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 31 for another road CNE matchup at Western New England at 3:00 p.m.