FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 20, 2007

Rhode Island College Men’s Basketball Score Report

Bridgewater, MA

1

2

Final

Rhode Island College (3-0)

38

35

73

Bridgewater State (1-2)

30

41

71

RIC Holds Off Bridgewater State, 73-71
Fortes’ 15 Points & Hill’s Crucial Free Throws Preserve Win

            Bridgewater, MA—Rhode Island College withstood a second-half surge by Bridgewater State to defeat the Bears, 73-71, at the Tinsley Center on Tuesday evening in collegiate men’s basketball action. Freshman guard Anthony Fortes (East Providence, RI) led the Anchormen with 15 points in the win.

 Freshman Guard Anthony Fortes

Trailing, 67-59, with 3 1⁄2 minutes remaining in the game, the Bears closed the gap to three points, 67-64, on a three-point bucket by freshman guard Nicholas Motta (Fairhaven, MA) and a running jumper by freshman guard Judah Jackson (Everett, MA). Four RIC free throws sandwiched a driving lay-up by BSC freshman guard Cesar Oliveira (Taunton, MA) as the Anchormen led, 71-66, with a minute remaining.

Jackson then hit a driving lay-up, which was answered by a pair of free throws by Rhode Island junior guard Tirrell Hill (Bronx, NY) with 21.7 seconds left.  Cuddihy brought the home crowd to its feet as he buried a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 73-71 with 13.3 seconds showing on the scoreboard.  The Anchormen gave the Bears a chance by missing a pair of free throws with 8.7 seconds on the clock, but Cuddihy's deep three at the buzzer hit the front of the rim.

Cuddihy finished 8-of-18 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the free throw line for 25 points. He also pulled down five rebounds and dished out three assists. For the Anchormen, Hill added 12 points while junior forward Kaseem Johnson (New Haven, CT) posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

RIC held a 49-38 rebounding advantage, with 21 of those 49 rebounds coming off the offensive glass.  RIC turned the ball over 23 times however and shot just 38% (26-for-68) from the floor.

Bridgewater struggled from the charity stripe in the second half hitting on just 11-of-18 free throw attempts. The Bears also finished 4-of-16 from three-point range and turned the ball over 17 times.

Bridgewater State will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 27 as the Bears travel to UMass Dartmouth for a 7 p.m. game with the Corsairs. RIC travels to Fitchburg State next Tuesday to take on the Falcons also at 7 p.m.

-end-