Middlebury's Alex Sobel recorded a double-double with 30 points and 17 rebounds, as the Panthers opened the new season with a 73-56 road triumph at Wentworth on Sunday. Next up for Middlebury is the home opener against Keene State on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

The game was close through the opening minutes with both teams taking small leads. The Leopards got a layup from Thomas Hacker with three minutes expired for a 7-6 lead, but that was the last time the hosts were in front. The Panthers used a modest 7-0 spurt midway through the frame to jump in front 21-12. Sobel and David Brennan each scored in the paint, while Nash Goldman knocked down a three-pointer during the run.

Middlebury took its biggest lead of the opening 20 minutes with 3:54 on the clock, as Sam Stevens drained a trey for a 10-point cushion (30-20). The Panthers carried a 37-29 advantage into the intermission.

In the second stanza, Wentworth closed the gap to six points (38-32) on a three from Trey Carrier, but that would be as close as the hosts got the remainder of the game. The Panthers took their biggest lead at 60-36, following an 8-0 run with just over nine minutes on the clock. Sobel connected twice from the floor, while Goldman and Nash each made a pair from the charity stripe.

After a bucket by the Leopards, Middlebury matched that lead again and maintained a comfortable double-digit advantage the rest of the way for the 73-56 victory.

Sobel, who set career high in both points and rebounds, was an efficient 14-20 from the floor and added four blocked shots, while Stevens also recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. Noah Osher chipped in with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Carrier paced Wentworth with 14 points, while Hacker added 12 with five rebounds.

Middlebury held a decisive 52-29 advantage on the glass while limiting the Leopards to 33.3 percent shooting (20-60) from the floor. The Panthers connected on 42.2 percent (27-64) of their shots and sank 16-19 from the foul line.