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Providence, R.I.-Senior forward Domonique Bull (Worcester, MA) hit a layup with just two seconds left to give the Rhode Island College men's basketball team a thrilling, 64-62, victory against intra-state rival Johnson & Wales in a non-conference contest played at The Wildcat Center on Tuesday evening. |
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RIC (4-4) was led by sophomore forward Benjamin Vezele (Providence, RI), who tallied a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jimmy Fritzson (Sharon, MA) had a team-best 13 points with three boards and two assists for RIC in the victory. Junior guard Jovel Beckford (Providence, RI) was also in double-figures with 10 points for the Anchormen. |
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Senior guard Anthony Jernigan (East Hartford, CT) paced Johnson & Wales (2-4) with 17 points and six rebounds, while sophomore forward Matt Madoian (North Kingstown, RI) had 15 points and five and boards in the loss for the Wildcats. |
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Johnson & Wales had control of the action during the early going and took its first double-digit lead, 16-6, on a tip-in by Madoian with 13:39 left in the first half. The Wildcats pushed the lead to 18 points then a three-pointer by Jarell Lawson made the score 25-7 with 8:48 remaining in the stanza. Johnson & Wales took a 39-26 lead at halftime as RIC shot just 28.0 percent (9-of-22) from the field for the first half. |
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RIC chipped away at the JWU lead throughout the second half and came all the way back to take the 56-55 advantage on a pair of free throws from Vezele with just under five minutes left in regulation. The two teams then traded baskets down the stretch with the score tied, 60-60, with less than a minute left on the clock. The Anchormen took a 62-60 lead on a tip-in by Vezele with :44 on the clock. The Wildcats then tied the game on a layup from Jernigan with :16 remaining, setting up the heroics for Bull, who hit the game-winner with two seconds left to lift RIC to the 64-62 victory. The Anchormen held a commanding, 52-38, advantage on the glass in the win. |
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RIC shot 33.3 percent (21-of-63) from the field, 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from behind the three-point stripe and 70.4 percent (19-of-27) from the free throw line. Johnson & Wales shot 35.4 percent (23-of-65) from the field, 31.0 percent (9-of-29) from downtown and 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the free throw line. |
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In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host MIT on Thursday, Dec. 8 (7 p.m.). |