FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 18, 2005

ANCHORMEN WIN SEASON OPENER, 107-95
Head Coach Bob Walsh Earns First Collegiate Win

Norton, MA—Rhode Island College downed Mt. Ida, 107-95, in first round action of the Wheaton College Tip-Off Tournament. The Anchormen advance to the Championship Game of the tourney and will face host Wheaton (which defeated MCLA, 112-64) on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. RIC Head Men’s Basketball Coach Bob Walsh earned his first collegiate win as a head coach in the victory.

RIC built a healthy, 30 21, lead midway through the first frame, spearheaded by a pair of treys from  sophomore Davon Yarbrough (New Haven, CT/Hyde).  The Mustangs clawed back and four consecutive Scott Chamberlain (Millis, MA/Millis) free throws capped a 15-5 run and put the home team ahead, 36-35.  However, the rest of the half belonged to the Anchormen, as junior Brian Stanko (Swansea, MA/Joseph Case) posted 10 points during a 19-6 run to put the visitors in front, 54-42 at the half.  In the second stanza, senior Kevin Payette (Woonsocket, RI/Woonsocket) and freshman Kaseem Johnson (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) had eight and seven points, respectively, in the early going to lift RIC to an 82-62 lead with 11:43 to play.  Mount Ida battled back and brought its deficit to eight at 103-95, but would get no closer as the Anchormen hit four free throws to seal the 107-95 win.

Both teams combined for 11 players in double-figure scoring. All five of Mount Ida's starters netted double-digit point totals, but it was Doug Williams' (Ellicott City, MD/Saint Mary's) game-best 24 points off the bench that kept the Mustangs close.  Chamberlain recorded 19 points and grabbed 15 boards while going 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.  Senior Matt McGaughran (Taunton, MA/Coyle & Cassidy) and freshman Otis Thompson (Gardner, MA/Gardner) accounted for 11 points apiece.  For RIC, Payette registered 21 points while Johnson and Yarbrough added 19 points apiece.  Stanko recorded 15 points and junior Kamari Williams (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) rounded the double-figure scorers with 10 points on the night.

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