FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: January 14, 2006

CONTACT: Alan Wickstrom (617) 287- 7815                                                                       

 PANIAGUA LEADS UMASS BOSTON MEN’S BASKETBALL OVER RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE, 108-87

BOSTON, MA – Sophomore guard Amigo Paniagua (Santiago, DR) poured in a career-high 36 points to lead the University of Massachusetts Boston men’s basketball team over visiting Rhode Island College, 108-87, in a Little East Conference contest today at the Clark Athletic Center on the UMass Boston campus.  The Beacons improve to 8-5 on the season and 4-1 in the LEC for their best start ever in conference play, while the Anchormen fall to 8-6 and 2-3.

UMB shot 55.9% (38-68) for the game and netted 50+ points in both halves.  Paniagua’s point total is the most for a Beacons’ player since February 10, 2001 when Frankie Patten scored a school-record 45 points vs. Plymouth State.

Rhode Island College took an 8-2 lead two minutes into the game and owned a 14-13 edge, with 16:01 left, but UMass Boston tied it and a three-pointer by sophomore guard Tommy Howe (Colchester, VT) put the Beacons in front, 17-14, with 14:32 to play in the opening half.  They would enjoy the lead for the remainder of the afternoon. 

UMass Boston led by as many as 14 in the first half as Paniagua just blew up with 20 points on 9-10 from the floor to lead UMB to a 56-43 halftime lead. 

There was no let up in the second stanza as the Beacons owned a 71-52 lead with 13:33 remaining in the game, before going on a 19-8 run, paced by seven points each from Paniagua and junior swingman Tony Barros (Dorchester, MA), to take their largest lead of the game at 90-60 with 10:33 to play in the contest.  The Anchormen would get no closer than 21 points the rest of the way.

Paniagua missed just three shots from the field, going 15-18, and added eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks.  UMass Boston placed five other players in double-figures as senior forward Charles Yuan (Lynn, MA) matched a career-best with 14 points on 6-9 from the floor in addition to three rebounds, a steal and an assist in just 17 minutes of action.  Senior forward James L. Hall (Jacksonville, FL) came off the bench to score 13 points, dish for eight assists and grab three boards, while Barros dropped in 13 points to go with seven rebounds, four steals and six assists.  Howe finished the day with 11 points, including three treys and added three rebounds and an assist in 22 minutes. 

Kinsey Durgin led Rhode Island College with 16 points and four assists to go with six rebounds, while Kevin Payette contributed with 14 points, eight rebounds, a steal and an assist.  Kamari Williams chipped in with 14 points, five rebounds and an assist in just 19 minutes off action of the bench and Davon Yarbrough netted 12 points go with four rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.

The Beacons will be in action again on Tuesday, January 17 when they travel to North Dartmouth, MA to play University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in a Little East Conference game at 7:30 p.m., while the Anchormen hit the road to face Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT on January 17 at 7:30 p.m.

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