Gorham, Maine—Senior forward Mason Choice (Newport, RI) and classmate center Mike Akinrola (Woonsocket, RI) combined for 45 points, with 23 and 22, respectively, as the Rhode Island College men's basketball team defeated Southern Maine, 77-65, in Little East Conference action at Hill Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The duo shot 57 percent (20-for-35) to lead RIC (18-5, 8-4 LEC), which remains in fourth place with two regular season games left to play. Southern Maine falls to 10-12 and 3-9 in the conference.
 
Choice was 10-for-16 from the field, while Akinrola was 10-for-19.  Both Choice and Akinrola grabbed eight rebounds. Junior guard Ethan Gaye (Providence, RI) added nine points, while junior guard Tahrike Carter (Brooklyn, NY) added seven points and nine assists.
 
Southern Maine sophomore guard Brandon Tomah (Princeton, ME) led four USM players in double figures with 19 points on a 7-for-14 effort from the field.  Senior forward Jeremy Jackson (Laplace, LA) added 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Junior guard Alex Kee (Bath, ME) and sophomore guard Conor Sullivan (Scarborough, ME) scored 12 and 10 points respectively. Kee added four assists and three steals.
 
Trailing RIC by 20, 56-36, with 15:46 remaining, the Huskies stormed back to within four of the Anchormen, 62-58, outscoring Rhode Island College 22-8 over a 10-minute stretch. Four different players scored for the Huskies in the run, led by 13 points from Tomah. Tomah was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, including a pair of threes, to pull USM to within two possession of RIC with 5:42 to play.
 
After the Huskies' closed the game, Akinrola gave his team some breathing room with a long-range jumper for a 64-58 lead on RIC's next possession. Jackson sank one of two free throws on the Huskies' next trip down the court to keep USM within striking distance with 3:59 on the clock, but the Anchormen shut the door on the Huskies at the free throw line. Forced to foul, USM sent the Anchormen to the free throw line and the Anchormen delivered knocking down 9-of-12 in the final minutes of action. 
 
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East Conference play at home against Western Connecticut on Tuesday, Feb. 14 (7:30 p.m.).