December 9, 2006

RIC nips PSU Men’s Hoop in double overtime thriller

Durgin scores 29 for winners, including game-winning shot

              PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior guard Kinsey Durgin (Greenwood, Maine) converted a put-back with less than three seconds remaining in the second overtime this afternoon to lead Rhode Island College to a thrilling 91-89 victory over Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference men’s basketball game at Foley Gymnasium.

              Durgin finished with a game-high 29 points for the Anchormen, the LEC preseason favorites who improve to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.  Sophomore Bobby Bailey (Fall River, Mass.) had a strong game for the visitors, recording 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and five blocked shots, while classmate Cameron Stewart (Newport, R.I.) also reached double digits 13 points.

              The Panthers, 5-4 overall and 0-2 in the LEC, had four players with at least 15 points.  Senior Mike Walcek (Dover, N.H.) led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds, making 8-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-7 from three-point range.  Sophomore Ben Huntington (Hampstead, N.H.) tossed in a career-high 21 points, while freshman Mike Chergey (Bow, N.H.) added 16 points and seven rebounds and Devin Ruocco (Dover, N.H.) chipped in with 15 points and eight boards.

              There were 13 lead changes in the first half, with neither team leading by more than five points and PSU clinging to a one-point advantage (41-40) after 20 minutes. It remained tight throughout the second half, with the Panthers holding the biggest lead (64-60) with four minutes remaining.

              It was a tie score with under a minute to play, and Ruocco drained a jumper with 18 seconds on the clock to give the Panthers a 68-66 advantage.  Durgin answered for the Anchormen, hitting the tying basket with five seconds left to force extra play.

              RIC took a five-point advantage in the first overtime, but PSU battled back and forced a second extra session when Huntington knocked down an off-balance three-point shot with seven seconds to play.

              The Anchormen led again in the second overtime, but again PSU rallied to tie the game at 89-all on a Huntington free throw with 40 seconds on the clock.  RIC won it in the closing seconds when Durgin collected a rebound in traffic in the lane and tossed in the game-winning shot.

              Rhode Island College returns to action at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12, when the Anchormen travel to Coast Guard for non-conference action.

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