FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 13, 2007

Rhode Island College Men’s Basketball Score Report

Providence, RI

1

2

Final

UMass Dartmouth (13-11, 8-5)

43

34

77

Rhode Island College (20-3, 11-2)

45

42

87

ANCHORMEN RECORD 20^th WIN IN HARD-FOUGHT
BATTLE WITH UMASS DARTMOUTH
RIC Sets School Record For Conference Wins in a Season

    Providence, RI—Rhode Island College downed UMass Dartmouth, 87-77, in a physical contest at The Murray Center on Tuesday evening. The Anchormen improve to 20-3 overall, recording the second 20-win season for the program over the past three years. Rhode Island College upped its conference record to 11-2, registering the most Little East Conference wins in a season in school history.

The Anchormen control their own destiny heading into Saturday’s regular season finale at UMass Boston. If the Anchormen win the game, they will win the Little East Conference Regular Season Championship for the first time in school history and have homecourt advantage throughout the upcoming conference tourney.

UMass Dartmouth charged out of the gates and opened up a 12-point lead, 16-4, with 15:02 left in the first half. The Anchormen went on a 22-6 run of their own to take a 26-22 lead at the 8:50 mark. The two teams traded hoops for the remainder of the first stanza, with RIC holding a two-point lead, 45-43, at the break.

The Corsairs opened the second half on a 10-5 run to take a 53-50 lead on a freshman guard Jeff Macchi (Franklin, MA) layup. The two teams traded the lead until the Anchormen took a 71-63 lead capped by senior center John Weir’s (Danbury, CT) layup with 7:05 left to go. UMass Dartmouth cut the RIC lead to six points, but could not make up the deficit down the stretch.

The Anchormen had six players score in double figures, led by sophomore guard Cameron Stewart’s (Newport, RI) team-high 17 points. Sophomore forward Kaseem Johnson (New Haven, CT) posted a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior guard Kinsey Durgin (Greenwood, ME) had 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

UMass Dartmouth senior forward Stephane Abelard (Brockton, MA) led all scorers with 22 points, while senior forward Paul Pawlowski (Taunton, MA) registered 13 points and five rebounds.

The Rhode Island College men's basketball senior class (left to right): Eric Bates (Manager), Kamari Williams, John Weir, Amde Tegbaru, Brian Stanko, Tony Pierlioni, and Kinsey Durgin were honored prior to the start of the game along with their families.

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