BOSTON, Mass. (December 7, 2024) – The Western New England men's basketball team was sparked with four starters in double figures as Tim Restall (24 pts.), Brian Geitner (16 pts.), Jake Harrison (13 pts.), and Andrew Byfield (12 pts.) helped the Golden Bears defeat the Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology on the road for their third straight CNE victory this week.

Records:

• Western New England: 7-3, 3-0 CNE
• Wentworth Institute of Technology: 1-5, 0-2 CNE

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears would win the tip and would quickly fire down a three-ball as Jake Harrison would find Andrew Byfield for the three-ball, which opened Western New England with the lead. Tim Restall would be on the board on the next possession of the game as Harrison quickly had two assists in the game, seeing WNE lead 5-0. Wentworth would quickly claw their way back, though would not take a lead in the game as Harrison would slam home a dunk while also being fouled, bringing WNE's two-point lead to a five-point lead with 15 minutes to play in the half. Brian Geitner would be true from distance, which would increase WNE's lead to double figures, while Will Laplante III would also sink a three as the Golden Bears would be firing on all cylinders early on. Western New England would continue to lead by double digits as Restall would heat up from the floor as the graduate student would collect 12 points in the first half to lead all scorers, including WNE's final hoop of the half. Wentworth would sink two free throws as neither team would score in the final minute of the first 20 minutes, seeing Western New England take a 42-31 first half lead. Western New England was 5/8 from three-point land in the opening half, shooting 14/31 overall. Wentworth made nine field goals in the first half and was aided by their ten free throw makes.

The Leopards started the second half on a quick 7-0 run as Wentworth's Jack Connell would drop all seven points to get Wentworth quickly back within four points in the first minute of the half. After a WNE timeout, the Golden Bears would respond as Cody Palazzesi would find Andrew Byfield for a three, which gave the Golden Bears a seven-point lead. The lead would stay around the five to eight point range for the Golden Bears up until the halfway point of the second half as Western New England would begin to take over again. It would be Restall pouring it on the Leopards, going on a solo 6-0 run that brought WNE's lead back to double digits with 8:47 to go, leading 66-55. Matt Houde would continue Western New England's run with a three-pointer of his own, which gave the Golden Bears a 14-point lead with seven minutes left. Byfield would again be true on a triple for the Golden Bears with six minutes to play, seeing the Golden Bears continue to push away from the Leopards on their home floor, a place from which Western New England men's basketball has struggled for more than one season in a row. Brian Geitner would bury the Leopards with a made three with 2:47 to go, giving the blue and gold a 77-59 lead, their largest of the game, as Western New England would finish out the game with a 17-point victory, 83-66 over Wentworth, to remain perfect on the season in conference play, collecting three big wins on the week.

Inside the Lines:

• Tim Restall put up another double-double on the season in the afternoon victory, scoring 24 points while grabbing ten rebounds. The Tolland, Connecticut native also had a steal on 10/16 shooting in the game.
• Brian Geitner nailed four of his six threes in the game, shooting 5/8 overall, getting 16 points, securing three rebounds, a steal, and an assist.
• Jake Harrison (13 pts.) had six assists, three steals, and two rebounds in the game while Andrew Byfield (12 pts.) dropped three triples of his own to help lead the Golden Bears past Wentworth.
• WNE made 27 field goals on the afternoon, picking up 23 assists overall.
• WNE out-rebounded the Leopards 36-25 overall in the game, defeating WIT 11-6 on the offensive glass.
• The Golden Bears shot 52% overall from the field, hitting ten of 18 three-pointers. The Golden Bears never trailed in the game.
• Jack Connell led Wentworth with 21 points on 7/16 shooting while picking up three assists and a steal.
• This is the first win for Western New England at Wentworth since 2020, breaking a streak of three straight losses on the road inside Tansey Gymnasium.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears are off until after the new year when they return for another conference battle at the University of New England on Saturday. January 4, 2025, for a 3:00 pm tip.