WATERVILLE, Maine --- Mike Russell (Wellesley, Mass.) finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds as the Colby College men's basketball team pulled away late for a 69-58 victory over Rhode Island College in non-conference play Thursday at Wadsworth Gymnasium.

The Mules improve to 8-6 overall heading into Saturday's big 2 p.m. home game with Bowdoin College. Saturday's game will be the first NESCAC game of the year. Rhode Island College fell to 8-5 overall.

Russell had 15 points in the second half, was 9-for-16 from the field, and also had three steals. He pulled down 10 rebounds in the first half to lead Colby to a 29-25 margin at intermission.

Gordon Fischer (Camden, Maine) added 12 points, including 4-for-4 free-throw shooting in the second half, while Christian Van Loenen (Falmouth, Maine) also had 12 points, was 6-for-6 from the foul line in the second half, and had three assists. Kyle Donovan (Portland, Maine) chipped in 11 points, Eric Beaulieu (Concord, Mass.) had six points and seven rebounds, and Ben Foreman (Los Angeles, Calif.) had six assists.

Antone Gray (Providence, R.I.) finished with 13 points, five assists, and four steals for Rhode Island College. Mason Choice (Newport, R.I.), the younger brother of Colby basketball great Adam Choice '10, also had 13 points. Mike Akinrola (Woonsocket, R.I.) had nine points and five rebounds, but was plagued by foul problems.

RIC hurt its own cause by shooting just 6 percent (1-for-17) from 3-point range and 53 percent (9-for-17) from the foul line. Colby hit five of its 13 3-point shots and was 18-for-24 from the foul line. The Mules also had a slight 42-40 edge in rebounding.

With the game tied 48-48, Fischer nailed a 3-point shot with 6:46 to play to give Colby the lead for good. With the Mules up 53-52, Fischer hit a pair of free throws and Russell scored inside to push the lead to 57-52. RIC got as close as 60-56 with 1:05 to play, but the Mules closed with a 9-2 run.

COLBY 69, RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE 58

RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE (8-5)

Antone Gray 5-17 3-6 13; Mason Choice 6-13 1-2 13; Mike Akinrola 4-8 1-1 9;

Carl Lee 4-8 0-0 8; Steven Roberts 2-3 2-2 6; Ethan Gaye 2-3 0-2 5; Darius

Debnam 1-3 1-2 3; Nick Manson 0-6 1-2 1; Ashton Watkins 0-0 0-0 0; Keith

Hamilton 0-1 0-0 0; Tahrike Carter 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-63 9-17 58.

COLBY (8-6)

Mike Russell 9-16 5-7 23; Gordon Fischer 3-8 4-4 12; Christian Van Loenen

3-9 6-6 12; Kyle Donovan 3-9 3-4 11; Eric Beaulieu 3-7 0-1 6; Ben Foreman

1-4 0-0 3; Uzoma Orchingwa 1-5 0-0 2; Jonathan Kalin 0-0 0-0 0; Gus David

0-1 0-2 0; Nick Rimsa 0-0 0-0 0; Ben Brassord 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-59 18-24

69.

Rhode Island College..........   25   33  -   58

Colby.........................   29   40  -   69

3-point goals--Rhode Island College 1-17 (Ethan Gaye 1-2; Mike Akinrola 0-1;

Carl Lee 0-1; Darius Debnam 0-1; Nick Manson 0-4; Keith Hamilton 0-1;

Tahrike Carter 0-1; Antone Gray 0-6), Colby 5-13 (Gordon Fischer 2-4; Kyle

Donovan 2-4; Ben Foreman 1-4; Christian Van Loenen 0-1). Fouled out--Rhode

Island College-Mike Akinrola, Colby-None. Rebounds--Rhode Island College 40

(Carl Lee 7), Colby 42 (Mike Russell 15). Assists--Rhode Island College 12

(Antone Gray 5), Colby 17 (Ben Foreman 6). Total fouls--Rhode Island College

19, Colby 17. Technical fouls--Rhode Island College-None, Colby-TEAM. A-250