FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 2, 2007

2007 NCAA Div. III Men’s Basketball Tournament
First Round Game

Providence, RI

1

2

Final

Coast Guard (14-14)

32

28

60

Rhode Island College (25-3)

34

30

64

DURGIN’S 15 SECOND HALF POINTS LEAD
RIC TO NCAA SECOND ROUND
Anchormen to Host Brandeis Tomorrow Night at 7 p.m.

     PROVIDENCE, RI—Rhode Island College held off Coast Guard, 64-60, to advance in the 2007 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament this evening in front of a raucous crowd of 1,500 fans at The Murray Center. Senior guard Kinsey Durgin (Greenwood, ME) scored 15 of his game-high 18 points in the second half to lead the Anchormen into the second round.

Rhode Island College will host Brandeis University (20-6) tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. in second round action. Tickets for the game will go on sale from 9 a.m. to noon in The Murray Center.

Sophomore guard Bobby Bailey (Fall River, MA) posted his second consecutive game with a double-double, logging 16 points and a game-high 13 boards. He also chipped in with two assists, two steals and a block.

RIC improves to 25-3 on the season, establishing a new record for single season victories, previously established by the 1968-69 team. The Anchormen and the Bears were playing in their first NCAA Tournament in 29 years. Ironically, they played each other in a consolation game, with the Bears getting the win, 76-71, 28 years ago to the day (March 2, 1979).

The loss ends a Cinderella run for the Bears who finished last in the NEWMAC during the regular season, but went on a run in the conference tourney to garner an automatic berth into the 59-team NCAA field. Coast Guard falls to 14-14 on the season.

Three Bears scored in double figures, paced by junior guard Grant Johnson’s (Grayson, GA) and junior forward Jeff Prebeck’s (Columbus, OH) double-doubles. They each scored 13 points, while Prebeck grabbed a team-high 11 boards.

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