BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team staved off local Commonwealth Coast Conference rival Salve Regina University Wednesday evening with a 61-54 victory.

Windell Hinkson (Groton, Conn.) started things off with a jumper for Salve Regina, followed by a layup by Taylor Petruccelli (Stratford, Conn.). This became a theme for the early part of the game, with both teams combining for three ties and four lead changes in the first ten minutes of the game.

A layup by Matt Clifford (Norwood, Mass.) broke a 12-all tie to put the Hawks on top by a basket. RWU would hold on to that advantage throughout most of the remainder of the period until a trey by Patrick Dinneen (Medfield, Mass.) put the Seahawks back on top 25-23 with 1:32 left in the half. Travis O'Dell (Brunswick, Maine) would knock down a pair of free throws on the Hawks' final possession to close the half tied at 25.

Petruccelli opening up the second half with a three-pointer to put the Hawks back on top. That shot from downtown kick-started a 14-3 run for RWU that would put the Hawks up 39-28 with 12:58 to play. Salve Regina would struggle to get over the hump for the rest of the game, coming no closer than seven over the rest of the game.

Although the Seahawks held the Hawks to only nine field goals in the period, Salve Regina only shot 28.9 percent in the half, in addition to the Hawks' 16 made free throws in the period as compared to Salve Regina's five.

Corey Fava (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) finished with 17 points and four rebounds for the Hawks. Petruccelli added 14 points and seven rebounds, with Pat Flanagan (Somerville, Mass.) adding 11 points and seven boards.

Scott St. Lawrence (Litchfield, N.H.) led the Seahawks with ten points off the bench. Dinneen finished with seven points and 11 rebounds, while Jeff Bielefeld (Littleton, Mass.) notched five points and a game-high 16 boards.

Roger Williams (13-7, 5-3 TCCC) takes on the University of New England Saturday at 3:00 p.m. on the road, while Salve Regina (10-9, 4-4 TCCC) hosts Colby-Sawyer College, also on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.