Providence, R.I.-Senior forward Carl Lee (Warwick, RI) scored 24 points, on 10-of-12 shooting, as Rhode Island College blasted UMass Dartmouth, 75-54, in Little East Conference men's basketball action at The Murray Center.

The Anchormen (16-7, 10-3 LEC) keep pace with Western Connecticut, which downed Eastern Connecticut, 75-71, tonight, atop the league standings. With the win, RIC can finish no lower than second in the standings and is guaranteed a bye in the first round.

If RIC closes the season with a win at Plymouth State on Saturday, the Anchormen will clinch at least a share of their fifth Little East Regular Season Championship in the last seven years. RIC would also be the top seed and host the 2011 LEC Tournament semifinals and finals on Feb. 25-26.

The Anchormen's last three wins have been against the lone teams who have handed them conference losses this winter (Western Connecticut, Southern Maine, UMD).

UMass Dartmouth (10-14, 7-7 LEC) will close out the season at home against Keene State on Saturday. The Corsairs are locked into the fifth seed in the tournament.

Lee added eight rebounds to an outstanding Senior Night performance. Senior guard Antone Gray (Providence, RI) registered 14 points, a game-high nine assists, three rebounds and a steal. Junior forward Mason Choice (Newport, RI) contributed nine points, five rebounds, five assists and a game-high four steals.

Junior center Mike Akinrola (Woonsocket, RI) pitched in with 10 points and five boards.

 "I am really proud of our four seniors," RIC Head Coach Bob Walsh said. "They have bought in to us being the best defensive team for four years now, and that has been the key to our success. It was once again tonight, holding them to 20 points in the first half and 32 percent for the game."

The game was pretty much over in the first half. A UMD junior guard Paul Rose (Boston, MA) three-pointer from the corner pulled the Corsairs within one point, 8-7, at 15:27, before the Anchormen put the contest out of reach. RIC outscored their longtime rivals, 38-13, over the final 15 minutes to take a commanding, 46-20, lead into halftime.

UMass Dartmouth would not get closer than 16 points the rest of the night as RIC cruised to the win.

RIC shot 53 percent (17-of-32) the first half and 43 percent (29-of-67) for the game. UMass Dartmouth shot just 5-of-22 (23 percent) in the first half and 32 percent (18-of-56) for the game. The Corsairs could not find their touch from downtown, making only three of their 25 attempts, and turned the ball over 20 times.

Freshman center Kadeem Wint (Dorchester, MA) led UMD with 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting with six rebounds to lead the team in both categories.