Norton, Mass.—Senior center Mike Akinrola (Woonsocket, RI) scored a game-high 18 points as the Rhode Island College men's basketball team secured a 71-53 win over Wheaton on Thursday evening at Emerson Gymnasium.

Sophomore guard Tahrike Carter (Brooklyn, NY) scored 11 points, while senior forward Mason Choice (Newport, RI) and junior guard Ethan Gaye (Providence, RI) contributed 10 points apiece. Choice was one rebound shy of a double-double, while also dishing out three assists. Gaye's offensive output was a career-high. The Anchormen (10-1) held a 36-6 advantage in the paint.

"Any time you hold your opponent to 26 percent from the field, you are going to win," RIC Head Coach Bob Walsh said. "We are really tough to beat when our defense performs at that level . Ethan Gaye gave us great energy on that end all night. "

For Wheaton (6-5), senior Brendan Degnan (Narragansett, RI) and freshman Eddie Capstick (Worcester, MA) combined to score 29 points

The Anchormen raced out to a 13-2 lead four minutes into the contest and carried an 18-point lead into halftime (41-23). Akinrola and Carter each tallied nine points to pace RIC, which connected on 12 of its first 16 field goal attempts and capped the half shooting 56.7 percent (17-of-30). The Anchormen also forced 12 turnovers which led to 21 points. Degnan led Wheaton with nine points, while Capstick had eight and senior Bruno Naylor (Santa Monica, CA) chipped in with six.

Wheaton clamped down defensively in the second half and held the Anchormen to 36.0 percent shooting, but were unable to overcome the halftime deficit. The Lyons cut the RIC lead to 16 points twice – once on a triple by Capstick at 15:08 and again on a three by Degnan with 9:02 – but could not stop the Anchormen in the paint.

The Lyons finished the night shooting 26.0 percent from the floor (13-of-50) and saw their bench score 30 of the team's 53 points. Rhode Island College held a 45-35 edge on the glass while committing 18 turnovers, compared to 17 for the home team.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East Conference play at home against UMass Boston on Saturday, Jan. 7 (3 p.m.).