Men’s Basketball Snaps Wentworth’s Six-Game Winning Streak, 76-56

BOSTON, Mass. – The Endicott men's basketball team ended Wentworth's six-game winning streak on Saturday afternoon at Tansey Gymnasium with a 76-56 victory over the Leopards in conference play. 

Matt McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) guided the Gulls offensively with 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-7 3PT), while Nick Thibeault (Gorham, Maine) nearly posted a double-double with 10 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Endicott also received 12 points from Keith Brown (Pelham, N.H.) and nine points from Joe Shehadi (Dorset, Vt.) and Mathew Catizone (Woburn, Mass.), respectively. 

In the first half, Wentworth raced out to a seven point lead on several different occasions (7-0, 9-2, 11-4, 13-6), before Endicott answered with a 13-4 run over the next 5:54 and never looked back. McDevitt, Catizone, and Rob O'Brien (Rindge, N.H.) all contributed one 3-pointer each, while Thibeault swished two free throws and Brown converted a jumper during the run. 

The Gulls then turned their slim two-point advantage (19-17, 10:14 remaining in the first half) into a lead as large as 16 points with 48-seconds remaining before the break. Endicott also led by as many as 25 points via a fast break layup by Vinny Clifford (Danvers, Mass.) at the 8:28 mark of the second half (69-44) before all was said and done. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott is 25-10 all-time against Wentworth.
• The Gulls bench outscored the Leopards, 28-11. Catizone paced the bench with nine points, while O'Brien had six, and Jordan Pettway (Bridgeport, Conn.) had seven to highlight the group.
• Endicott is 4-1 on the road this season. 
• Catizone's nine points were a career-high.

FOR THE FOES

• Stephen Azums (Hyde Park, Mass.) posted his sixth double-double of the season on 17 points (5-7 FG, 7-8 FT) and 10 rebounds.
• Jason Ganley (Northbridge, Mass.) had 12 points, two rebounds and a steal.
• Matt Vartanian (Salem, N.H.) registered nine points, seven rebounds and two assists.
• The Leopards outscored Endicott in the paint, 30-24. 

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (8-3, 3-1 CCC) hosts Western New England on Tuesday, January 9 at 7:30 PM. Wentworth (8-3, 3-1 CCC) welcomes Gordon to its campus next Tuesday at 7:30 PM. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - David Le '10)