Wentworth defeats Salve Regina, 63-44

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University men's basketball shot a season-low 25.5 percent and attempted fewer than 16 3-pointers (1-for-6) for the first time this season as visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology dealt a 63-44 defeat in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener for both schools.

The Seahawks (3-4; 0-1 CCC) insisted on attacking inside but were thwarted by the Leopards (2-4; 1-0 CCC) who posted a season-high 10 blocked shots (previous high was four in a seven-point loss at Emmanuel on Nov. 16). The only time the Seahawks had fewer than 11 3-pointers attempted in 2013-14 came in a road win against the Leopards (3-for-8 on Dec. 4, 2013).

Both teams started of slowly with no scoring in the first 2:22 of action. Salve Regina had its only lead of the game when freshman Adam Quinlan (East Walpole, Mass.) sank a pair of free throws at the 17:37 mark.

Wentworth senior forward John-Michael Fragnoli (Schenectady, N.Y.) started a 9-0 Leopard run that featured baskets from four different players. His classmates Nico Donato (Glastonbury, Conn.) and Ray Bessette (Dedham, Maine) added layups and freshman Cesar Fulcar (Watertown, Mass.) swished a 3-pointer for a 9-2 lead at 14:46.

Salve Regina then had an 8-1 run with four different scorers. Chris O'Keefe (Lexington, Mass.) and Rodney Morton (Malden, Mass.) both hit jumpers while two-time CCC Rookie of the Week Bryce Boggs (Hyde Park, Mass.) and senior co-captain Eric MacKinnon (South Easton, Mass.) both sank a pair of free throws, tying the game at 10-10 with 12:00 to play in the first.

The Leopards enjoyed their first double-digit lead (22-12) at the 7:32 mark, and went into the break up nine (31-22). Salve Regina had only five field goals made in the first 20 minutes and got most of its offense from the charity stripe (12 free throws made).

Donato started the second half scoring with a jumper and a 3-pointer to key a 13-3 Leopard run. Bessette's 3-pointer at 10:42 gave the Leopards their largest lead (53-33). The Seahawks closed to within 16 points after a MacKinnon layup at 3:22.

Boggs had a game-high 16 points for Salve Regina; Quinlan led the Seahawks off the boards with eight caroms.

Bessette (14), Donato (11) were in double-figure scoring as starters while Fulcar and Tim Juitt (Wellesley, Mass.) came off the bench to finish with 10 points apiece. Six different Leopards contributed to the blocking brigade, led by Ian Therriault's (Auburn, Maine) three swats. Cam Sennick (Wilton, Maine) and Michael Boaheng (Worcester, Mass.) had two blocks apiece.

Salve Regina travels to Dudley, Mass., for its next conference tilt with the Bison of Nichols College on Saturday (3 p.m.); Wentworth hosts Gordon College at 3 p.m. in CCC action Saturday.