Gonzalez Buzzer-Beater Sinks Wentworth, 82-79

By Jim Fenton

BOSTON, Mass. -- Senior captain Alex Gonzalez (Peabody, Mass.) gave the Bridgewater State University men's basketball team a dramatic victory Saturday afternoon.

Gonzalez beat the buzzer with a game-winning 3-pointer as the Bears defeated the Wentworth Institute of Technology, 82-79.

The game was the first between the two schools since Feb. 29, 2012.

With the game tied after the Leopards wiped out a five-point deficit late, BSU called timeout after moving the ball into the front court.

Junior Nicolas Bontemps (Coral Springs, Fla.) found Gonzalez in the right corner where he hit from 3-point range for the second time in the game, this one give the Bears (4-2) a road win.

Sophomore Zach Taylor (Quincy, Mass.) led BSU with 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting to go with three assists.

Sophomore Sam Sweeney (Burlington, Vt.) added 12 points and four steals while Bontemps had eight points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals.

The Bears had 34 bench points with junior Steven Morrell (Rochester, Mass.) leading the way with nine. BSU made 50 percent of its shots.

Senior Tyler Stewart (Taunton, Mass.) led the Leopards (1-3) with 28 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks while junior Russell Dolabany (Westwood, Mass.) had 19 points and senior Jack Connell (Walpole, Mass.) added 17.

BSU trailed, 44-40, at halftime as the Leopards were in front the rest of the way after falling behind, 2-0.

Wentworth was in front, 8-7, before  BSU closed to 8-7. The Leopards went on an 8-0 run to open a 22-13 lead nearly the midway point of the half.

The lead was 29-21 when Taylor made two 3-pointers to make it 29-27 with 4:52 to go. Taylor had two late baskets to close the Bears within four at halftime.

BSU had a 7-0 run to get within 57-55 in the second half and after late outscored Wentworth, 15-4, to take a 72-66 lead.

Bontemps had a pair of foul shots for a 74-68 BSU lead with 3:11 to go and a Taylor basket put BSU up, 79-74, with 1:17 remaining.

Connell hit five foul shots, the last three coming with 35 seconds to go, to tie it and set up the last-second heroics by Gonzalez.

BSU is home Tuesday night for a 5:30 game against Rhode Island College. Wentworth plays at Roger Williams on Dec. 4.