BRISTOL, R.I. – Babson College claimed the 2011 Courtyard by Marriott Tip-Off Championship with a 72-52 win over the Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team Sunday afternoon.

Babson was led by Tournament MVP Marcus McDermott (Ridgefield, Conn.), who finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Matt Palazini (Franklin, Mass.) also added 13 points while Russell Braithwaite (Brooklyn, N.Y.) chipped in with 12. All-Tournament Team selection Matt Florio (Princeton, N.J.) finished with eight points and two steals.

Roger Williams senior Pat Flanagan (Somerville, Mass.) was selected to the All-Tournament Team, finishing the game with 14 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Freshman Adam Cook (Manasquan, N.J.) also scored 14 for the Hawks with four rebounds. Junior Matt Grossbard (Pearl River, N.Y.) added ten points and four assists off the bench.

Babson took control of the game early, scoring the first nine points of the game and holding RWU scoreless over the first four minutes. The Hawks continued to battle back, pulling to within two with 6:30 to play in the half on a three-pointer by Mike Engemann (Red Bank, N.J.) to make it 22-24. Yet the Hawks would go scoreless over the rest of the half, as the Beavers closed out on a 13-0 run to take a 15-point lead into the break.

Roger Williams exploded out of halftime with nine straight points to cut the deficit to six (31-37). However, staunch defense by Babson in the period kept the Hawks from completing the comeback. After only committing two turnovers in the first half, the Hawks gave up 19 points on 12 turnovers in the half. Palazini gave the Beavers their largest lead of the game with a trey at the 9:12 mark to make it 55-35. The Hawks could not pull closer than nine over the rest of the game as Babson remains undefeated on the year, moving to 4-0.

Roger Williams will host Eastern Nazarene College after the holiday on November 30, while Babson faces Lasell on Tuesday.

NOTE: Taken from a Roger Williams press release.