Feb 22, 2014
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Roger Williams University put together a 19-2 run over four minutes in the latter stages of the opening half to gain a lead it would not relinquish on the way to a 58-51 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball victory in the regular-season finale on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22) at the Harold Alfond Forum.
The Hawks secure the sixth seed for the upcoming CCC tournament with the win, improving to 10-15 overall and 9-9 in league action. RWU will head to Gordon College on Tuesday for the quarterfinal round.
UNE concludes its 2013-14 campaign with a mark of 1-24 (1-17 CCC).
Junior Ryan Palumbo and first-year Jake LePrevost paced the visiting squad with 15 points apiece. Palumbo added seven rebounds, eight assists, and four steals, while converting 11-of-12 at the charity stripe. Senior Will Gerencer chipped in with 11 points.
Roger Williams shot just 27 percent (16 of 60) for the game, but knocked down 20 free throws to out-score the hosts by 12 in the category.
The Nor'easters were led by the team's lone senior, Kurt Steiner, who dropped in a season-best 17 points to go with a season-high eight rebounds. First-year Brayden Morse recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards.
UNE was up 14-9 with 6:30 left in the 1st half before the Hawks surged back to assume a 28-16 cushion just prior to the break. Palumbo and Gerencer each scored six in the span.
Near the middle of the 2nd half, a three-point play from sophomore Jesse Dykstra and a triple by Steiner trimmed the deficit to one (34-33), but 13 of the next 16 points went for RWU to provide just enough separation down the stretch.