WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Powered by an 18-point double-double from senior
Jackson Zancan and a game-high 22 points from classmate
Isaac Percy, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men's basketball team posted an 83-80 overtime win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in the first game of the 2023 Saint Joseph Holiday Tournament in West Hartford, Connecticut.
The Corsairs improve to 4-5 on the season after winning their third straight, while the Leopards slide to 5-4.
In the opening 10 minutes following the tip, UMass Dartmouth pulled out to a 21-11 lead after a layup from senior
Isaac Percy put the Corsairs up double-digits early in the first half. Wentworth was able to respond immediately, when they saw two straight buckets from their junior Tyler Stewart along with another pair of baskets from junior Nathaniel Smith, as they took over a one-point lead with 6:47 on the clock.
The distance between these two teams remained close through the rest of the half. With the score even at 29-29 with 1:12 remaining, Zancan nailed a three-ball to put UMass Dartmouth on top, 32-29 going into the halftime break.
In an electric second half, neither team led by more than six points at any point. An early flurry of layups from Percy and sophomore
Josh Lopes helped the Corsairs hold a five-point lead through the first two minutes. Wentworth responded with three-pointers from sophomore Nathan Brinkman and junior Jack Connell, evening the score at 40-40 at the 15:54 mark. Corsairs' sophomore
Ryan Flauto scored six big second-half points while stepping in for senior
Michael Eurquhart Jr., who got into foul trouble.
The Leopards claimed their largest lead of the second half with 5:10 to go, when a layup from senior Sam Goy put them up by four points. The Corsairs stayed close in the closing minutes, thanks to consistent scoring from Percy and Lopes, along with another timely three from Zancan.
UMass Dartmouth trailed by three points with 29 seconds left in regulation, when sophomore
John Marcille hit his biggest shot of the game to tie it up at 73-73. Wentworth put the pressure back on the Corsairs after a layup from Stewart with 18 seconds left. Lopes clutched up for the Corsairs, driving to his right and scoring over a defender to tie the game up with two seconds left and send the contest to overtime.
In the three-minute overtime, Percy and Lopes accounted for 7 of 8 Corsairs points, leading to a UMass Dartmouth win, 83-80 in overtime.
Wentworth saw three players score in double-figures, including a game-high 27 points from Stewart. Stewart rounded out his great day with 17 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Brinkman scored 16 while shooting a lights-out 4 for 5 from deep.
The Corsairs were paced by Percy, who posted 22 points with six rebounds and two assists. Zancan added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Lopes scores 17 with four assists. UMass Dartmouth won the battle in points off of turnovers (17-5), bench points (22-5), second-chance points (16-13), points in the paint (52-44) and fast break points (14-9).
The Corsairs advance to the Championship Game of the 2023 USJ Holiday Tournament. They will face the winner of Lycoming and the host team Saint Joseph on Saturday, December 30 at 3:00pm.
