Providence, R.I.-Junior forward Mason Choice (Newport, RI) led all scorers with 20 points as Rhode Island College crushed Southern Maine, 85-54, in Little East Conference men's basketball action played at The Murray Center.

The Anchormen (15-7, 9-3 LEC) get even with the Huskies (9-14, 1-11 LEC) who had torched the vaunted RIC defense for a season-high 95 points in a 95-88 setback on Jan. 11.

More importantly, the victory moves RIC into a three-way first place tie atop the LEC standings along with Western Connecticut and Eastern Connecticut with two games left to play. WestConn lost, 82-78, at Keene State this afternoon, while the Warriors got by UMass Dartmouth, 79-76.

Choice made a living from the free throw line, converting 12 of his 14 attempts to go along with a game-high four assists. Eleven different Anchormen scored at least two points in the win.

Senior guard Antone Gray (Providence, RI) contributed 12 points, cashing in four three-pointers in his five field goal attempts. Sophomore center Steven Roberts (New Haven, CT) was a spark off the bench with 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in just 11 minutes. Junior center Mike Akinrola (Woonsocket, RI) pitched in with 10 points and three rebounds.

Southern Maine led, 2-1, 1:07 into the game, but things quickly went awry for the visitors. The Anchormen took the lead, 4-2, on a Gray trifecta with 18:45 left in the first half and the hosts never looked back.

RIC precisely passed the ball around on offense for the majority of the afternoon, which lef to several easy buckets. The Anchormen held a 17-point, 35-18, lead in the first half and went into the break up by 15, 37-22.

The second half was all RIC, which led by as many as 33 points over the final 20 minutes, en route to the 31-point final margin.

USM made only 18 shots (18-of-59) for 31 percent from the field and converted only three of 17 three-point attempts (18 percent). The Huskies also turned the ball over 17 times.

RIC shot 47 percent (29-of-62) from the field, which was bolstered by a 56-percent (18-for-32) effort in the second stanza, and committed just 12 turnovers.

Senior guard Devin Chambers (Memphis, TN) led USM with 13 points and six rebounds, while freshman backcourt mate Conor Sullivan (Scarborough, ME) contributed 10 points and five rebounds.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will try to keep pace with the Warriors and Colonials, with a Tuesday night matchup at home against longtime LEC rival UMass Dartmouth (7:30 p.m.). WestConn and Eastern will face each other on Tuesday night in Danbury as well.