BOSTON, Mass. – Lesley University junior Corbin Polec (Okemos, Mich.) drained four three-pointers and notched a career-high 23 points, but Wheelock College sophomore Derek Fournier (Johnston, R.I.) drilled the game-winning triple as time expired to secure the 80-77 victory for the host Wildcats in New England Collegiate Conference play at Brunelli Court.
It was the second thrilling matchup between the two teams this season as the Lynx defeated the Wildcats 78-76 on January 13th on a game-winning layup by Lesley junior Chris Barletta (Valrico, Fla.) in Cambridge as the two schools split the regular season series 1-1. Wheelock improves to 5-13 on the season and 2-7 in NECC play while Lesley drops to 2-17 overall and 1-7 in the conference.
Polec, who finished one rebound shy of a double-double, headlined four Lynx who finished in double-figures on the night. Senior Matt Gianoni (Berlin, Conn.) added a career-best 13 points and seven boards while fellow senior Justin Rosa (East Brunswick, N.J.) and sophomore Terrell Toney (Lakewood, Wash.) finished with 11 points apiece. Junior Chris Barletta (Valrico, Fla.) dished out a team-high five assists for the guests.
Wheelock sophomore Anthony Williams (White Plains, N.Y.) finished with a game-best 28 points on 12-of-23 shooting and added nine boards for the victors. Classmate Nicholas Fenton (East Hartford, Conn.) registered his second double-double of the year against the Lynx as he finished with 14 points and 10 assists while Fournier knocked down five triples on his way to 15 points.
The Wildcats led 35-29 with 4:17 to go in the opening half before the Lynx strung together eight straight points, powered by back-to-back treys from Polec and Rosa, to take a 37-35 edge with just under two-minutes to go before the break. A Williams layup would notch the game at 37-37 before Toney scored four straight points to send the visitors into halftime with a 41-37 lead.
Wheelock wasted little time in jumping back in front after the break as a 13-4 spurt over the half's opening four minutes gave the hosts a five point edge, 50-45.
Trailing 57-53 with 13:28 to go, the Lynx reclaimed the lead thanks to eight straight points from Polec capped by his fourth triple of the night.
The Lynx extended claimed their biggest lead of the night at 73-68 with 5:22 left in the game following a layup by Gianoni and a three-pointer from sophomore Casey Blanchard (Bernardston, Mass.), but the Wildcats fought back with a 7-2 streak to tie the game at 75-75.
Barletta looked to be the hero for the Lynx once again as he put the Lynx up two with a layup with 1:06 to go. Wheelock would quickly even the score once again as junior Joe Reedy (Orlando, Fla.) connected inside on a feed from Fenton.
The Wildcats would get a pivotal stop on the defensive end to setup Fournier's game-winner as the sophomore drained the game-winning bucket with no time left.
The Lynx will return to Cambridge on Saturday when they host Becker College at 8:00p while the Wildcats will be back in action on Friday as they host Daniel Webster College at 7:00p.