PAXTON, Mass. (02.24.11) –Senior Windell Hinkson dropped a game-high 39 points, including nine three-pointers, to spark the Salve Regina University men's basketball team to an 89-80 victory over Anna Maria College during the semifinal round of The Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament at The Fuller Activities Center on Thursday night. The Seahawks are now 15-10 on the season and will advance to play Wentworeth in the Conference Championship on Saturday. The AMCATS fall to 18-9 overall and will have to hope for an invitation to either the NCAA Tournament or the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament if their season is to continue.
In the process of scoring his 39 points, Hinkson topped 1,000 points for his collegiate career. He was on fire in the second half, hitting 7-of-11 from beyond the arc and scoring 14 points over the final four minutes of action to help the Seahawks seal the victory. Senior Ryan Birrell (Hope, R.I.) also played well, scoring 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor while leading all players with six assists and four steals. Freshmen Patrick Dinneen (Medfield, Mass.) and Scott St. Lawrence (Litchfield, N.H.) completed the double-digit scorer's for Salve Regina, contributing 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The AMCATS were led by sophomore Anthony Click's (Springfield, Mass.) double-double, scoring a team-high 22 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Junior Brad Peterson (North Kingstown, R.I.) added 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor, while also grabbing nine boards. Senior guard Junior De La Hoz (Lawrence, Mass.) also played well, hitting four threes on his way to 14 points, while sophomore Javier Bristol connected on all five of his shots from the floor to compile 12 points in the loss.
The two teams matched up evenly through the opening five minutes of the game, with the AMCATS clinging to a two-point lead at 13-11.
Hinkson drained the first of his nine threes on the Seahawks' next possession, igniting a 21-4 run for the visitors, which was highlighted by eight points from Birrell.
The Seahawks lead swelled to as many as 21 points in the opening half, before the AMCATS closed out the period with back-to-back layups from Bristol and Chris Pinsonault (Marlboro, Mass.) to cut the score to 49-32 at the break.
The Seahawks built their first half lead by causing and capitalizing off of the AMCATS' mistakes. Salve forced 14 turnovers by the AMCATS in the opening period, allowing them to build a 19-4 advantage in points off of turnovers and a 12-2 edge in fast break points.
The AMCATS got their heads right at halftime and came out hungry in the second half. Anna Maria scored 14 of the opening 20 points in the period, cutting the Salve lead down to single digits at 55-46 with 13:59 remaining in the game.
Down 12 with under 12:30 left to play, Anna Maria went on a 10-1 run, getting a clutch three from De La Hoz sandwiched in between seven points from Click to get back within three.
After Hinkson answered with a three to put Salve back up by six, the AMCATS rolled off seven unanswered points, capped by a jumper from Click at the seven minute mark that gave Anna Maria the lead, 63-62.
As he did all night, Hinkson answered with a three at the other end to reclaim the lead for the Seahawks.
The two teams traded baskets over the next three minutes, and with just 4:09 left to play, the AMCATS held a slight two-point advantage.
That's when Hinkson took over, scoring 14 points over the final four minutes of play, including three treys and five free throws, to help the Seahawks pull away for the nine-point victory.
The Seahawks will travel to face Wentworth in The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship at 7:00 pm on Saturday.