FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 26, 2008

Rhode Island College Men’s Basketball Score Report

Boston, MA

1

2

Final

Rhode Island College (13-4, 5-2)

36

36

72

UMass Boston (2-16, 1-6)

37

37

74

ANCHORMEN FALL, 74-72, AT UMASS BOSTON
RIC Loses Two Straight for First Time in Two Years

            Providence, RI— The Rhode Island College men’s basketball team fell, 74-72, at UMass Boston on Saturday afternoon at the Clark Athletic Center. The Anchormen, who fell to No. 8 UMass Dartmouth earlier in the week, lose back-to-back games for the first time in two years, falling to 13-4 overall and 5-2 in the Little East. The Beacons earn their first league win of the year and just their second overall, improving to 2-16 and 1-6 in the league. The victory snapped a 14-game losing streak for UMB.

Rhode Island College led by three points, 71-68, with 1:17 remaining in the game. The Beacons tied the game on a three-pointer by a sophomore guard Anthony Matlock (Seattle, WA) 13 seconds later and took the lead for good, 73-71, on a layup by senior forward Amigo Paniagua (Santiago, DR) with 28 seconds to go.

After free throws by both teams, the Beacons held a two-point advantage, 74-72, with the Anchormen gaining possession with a chance to tie or win with eight seconds left. Rhode Island College missed three shots in the final moments as the Beacons escaped with the win.

Both squads had five players reach double figures in scoring. Junior guard Tirrell Hill (Bronx, NY) led RIC with 15 points, while classmate forward Kaseem Johnson (New Haven, CT) posted his seventh double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Junior center Wil Lyons (Warwick, RI) narrowly missed a double-double of his own with a 13-point, nine-rebound effort.

Paniagua led all scorers with 21 points, to go along with four assists, eight rebounds and a game-high eight steals. Sophomore guard Aaron Jones (Boston, MA) registered 14 points and three assists.

Rhode Island College struggled from downtown, shooting just 18 percent (4-for-22) from beyond the three-point arc. The Anchormen turned the ball over 24 times, while the Beacons forced 19 steals. RIC posted a decisive advantage on the glass, outrebounding their hosts, 49-30.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will play at Western Connecticut, while UMass Boston travels to UMass Dartmouth, on Tuesday, Jan. 29 for 7:30 p.m. games.

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