Wildcats survive late Lesley surge for win

CHESNTUT HILL, Mass. - The Wheelock College men’s basketball team survived a late second half surge to pull out the win over NECC rival Lesley University 65-55 Thursday night at Pine Manor College. The Wildcats looked to be cruising to their third win in a row, leading by 27 points with 5:52 remaining in regulation, but the Lynx, led by Senior captain Alexander Green III (Baton Rouge, La.)went on a 21-4 run to set the final score. Green scored 12 of his team-high 18 points during the run, as well as notching two steals and a three assists.

The first half was all Wheelock, as the Wildcats out rebounded the Lynx 30-15 to help them take a 35-21 lead into the locker room. Wheelock opened up the second half with a 13-2 run, highlighted by three steals by Wheelock sophomore Max Kaim (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.).

Wheelock senior Sherard Robbins (Malden, Mass.) scored a game-high 22 points and won the battle of the boards with Lesley’s Jesus Trejo (Methuen, Mass.), the leading rebounder in the conference, grabbing 14 rebounds to Trejo’s five. Dan Main (Hopedale, Mass.) and Kaim were also in double-digits for the Wildcats, with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Lesley’s Matt Grassa (Everett, Mass.) shot 3-5 from the field for 14 points, while Trejo scored 11.

The win improves Wheelock’s record to 11-6 overall and 4-3 in the NECC while Lesley falls to 6-11 and 3-3. Wheelock will next host Elms College Saturday afternoon at 2:00 while Lesley hosts Mitchell College Saturday night at 7:00 pm.