Providence, RI-Junior center Mike Akinrola (Woonsocket, RI) scored a game-high 16 points as Rhode Island College remained tied atop the Little East Conference men's basketball standings with a 73-56 win over Plymouth State on Saturday at The Murray Center.

The Anchormen (9-5, 4-1 LEC) sit atop the league standings along with Western Connecticut, who defeated UMass Boston, 87-72 today. The Panthers (6-8, 1-4 LEC) drop to seventh overall.

Senior forward Darius Debnam (Dorchester, MA) had nine points on 4-of-5 shooting, to go along with a game-high seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. Senior guard Antone Gray (Providence, RI) contributed 13 points and a game-high four assists, while junior forward Mason Choice (Newport, RI) pitched in with 12 points and six rebounds.

Rhode Island College started the game out strong, going up by eight points, 15-7, at 13:23. A technical foul called on Gray turned the momentum in the Panthers favor as they erupted for a 12-2 outburst to take their first lead, 19-17, at 10:02. Plymouth State took a 34-31 lead into halftime.

RIC shot 38 percent (13-for-34) from the field, 13 percent (1-for-8) from downtown and 67 percent (4-for-6) from the free throw line. PSU shot 48 percent (12-for-25), but made the most of its three-point attempts, cashing in 5-of-10, for a 50 percent clip.

Plymouth State opened the second half on an 8-1 run over the first 1:31, prompting a RIC timeout and giving the visitors their game-high lead of 10 points.

Over the next six minutes, RIC methodically chipped away at its deficit, finally regaining the lead, 47-46, on a Choice layup at 12:35.

The Anchormen led the rest of the way, eventually opening up a 20-point, 71-51, advantage with three minutes left in regulation.

For the game, RIC shot 42 percent (28-for-67) from the field, just 22 percent (4-for-18) from downtown and 72 percent (13-for-18) from the free throw line. The Anchormen outrebounded Plymouth State, 49-29, in the game and 31-10 in the second half.

PSU shot 40 percent (20-for-50) from the field, 44 percent (8-for-18) from downtown and 62 percent (8-for-13) from the free throw line.

Senior forward Tom Dowd (Portsmouth, NH) led Plymouth with 14 points and seven rebounds. Classmate guard Ryan Lambert (Derry, NH) was the only other Panther in double figures with an 11-point effort.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East Conference play at home against Western Connecticut on Tuesday, Jan. 18.

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