Jan 18, 2014
BRISTOL, R.I. -- Three players in double figures helped power Roger Williams University to a 61-52 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball victory over the University of New England on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 18) at the Campus Rec Center.
Back-to-back wins move the Hawks up to 4-11 overall and 3-5 in league action. The Nor'easters slip back to 1-14 on the year (1-7 CCC).
Tom Carton led the hosts with 16 points and six rebounds, while Ryan Palumbo and Ryan Gerencer combined for another 25 points. Alex Barry pulled down a game-best 10 caroms for RWU, which totaled a 40-32 edge on the boards.
First-year Justin Pollard paced UNE with 16 points, and sophomore William Abdul-Malak added 12 -- all on three-pointers. Rookie Brayden Morse went for seven points, a team-high nine rebounds, and three steals.
After Morse opened the contest with a trey, Roger Williams responded with a 12-1 run in under five minutes to get out in front. Five different Hawks scored in the stretch.
The margin during the 1st half peaked at 10 before the Nor'easters strung together seven unanswered points to make it 20-17 with 4:30 left in the period. First-year center Tom Nason dropped in his only two buckets to cap the spurt.
However, the difference was eight (27-19) at halftime, and RWU bumped it to 15 with the initial seven points of the closing frame.
UNE got within nine on several occasions during the 2nd stanza, but could not reduce the deficit any more.
Big Blue is back at home on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) for a match with Curry College.