FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 23, 2007

2007 Little East Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament
Semifinal Game Two Result

Providence, RI

1

2

Final

^#4 UMass Dartmouth (14-13)

30

38

68

^#1 Rhode Island College (23-3)

30

46

76

RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE TO FACE KEENE STATE IN
LEC TITLE CONTEST TOMORROW AFTERNOON
Durgin & Anchormen Sink Corsairs, 76-68

     Providence, RI—Top-seeded Rhode Island College defeated fourth-seeded UMass Dartmouth, 78-68, in the semifinals of the 2007 Little East Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Anchormen will face second-seeded Keene State College, which downed sixth-seeded UMass Boston, 79-67, earlier this evening, in the Championship Game tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. in The Murray Center.

It is the first time in school history Rhode Island College will play in the Championship Game of the LEC tourney, having never made it past the semifinals before tonight’s win. The Anchormen improve to 23-3 overall and are one win shy of tying the school record for wins in a season.

Senior guard Kinsey Durgin (Greenwood, ME) was white hot in the game, shooting 8-for-11 from the field, and 4-for-6 from downtown, for a game-high 24 points. He also contributed four boards and three assists.

Sophomore guard Tirrell Hill (Bronx, NY) had 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals, while sophomore forward Kaseem Johnson (New Haven, CT) notched a double-double with a 10-point, 13-rebound effort.

UMass Dartmouth senior forward Stephane Abelard (Brockton, MA) led the Corsairs with 22 points and seven boards, while sophomore guard Reece Freeman (Cambridge, MA) contributed 11 points and eight rebounds.

Rhode Island College will be trying to avenge two losses to Keene State from the regular season. The Anchormen lost, 82-78, at home on Dec. 2, and fell, 92-81, in Keene on Jan. 20. Keene State will be playing in the title game for the third time in the past four seasons.

A win in the Championship Game carries with it an automatic bid into the NCAA Div. III Men’s Basketball Championship. Rhode Island College has not been to the NCAA tourney since 1979, a span of 28 years.

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