Cambridge, Mass.--Freshman guard Jimmy Fritzson (Sharon, MA) scored a game-high 20 points, which included six three-pointers, as the Rhode Island College men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to MIT, 63-61, at Rockwell Cage on Thursday night.

The Engineers (7-2) started the game on a 13-0 run, capped by a trey by freshman guard Bradley Jomard (Paris, France) with 15:19 left in the first half. RIC (1-9) trimmed the lead down to seven, 15-8, following a three by sophomore guard Chris Green (Taunton, MA), but MIT would outscore the Anchormen, 22-19, over the remainder of the half to take a 10-point, 37-27 lead into the halftime break.

RIC was led by Green and Fritzson in the half, with each scoring 11 points. MIT was led by senior guard Justin Pedley (Kennewick, WA) and freshman forward Tim Roberts (Oak Bluffs, MA) who scored 13 and 11, respectively, in the half.

RIC opened the first 3:45 of the second half on a 13-2 run, capped by a trey by sophomore guard Roosevelt Shider (Meriden, CT) to take a 40-39 lead. The teams traded the lead over the next 10 minutes, with a Jomard jumper with 5:32 left in the second half pushing the Engineers' lead to five, 59-54. RIC responded, taking the lead following a trey by Green with 3:41 left, but MIT wouldn't be denied at home, going to the line with one second remaining in the game and sinking a pair of free throws to clinch the victory.

Fritzson led the Anchormen with 20 points, with Green chipping in 17 points in the defeat. RIC shot 32.8 percent (19-for-58) from the field, 76.9 percent (10-for-13) from the charity stripe and a scorching 56.5 percent (13-for-23) from downtown on the evening.

Pedley led the four Engineers in double figures with 19 points, while Jomard notched a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. MIT shot 43.6 percent (24-for-55) from the field and 90.9 percent (10-for-11) from the free throw line, while being held to just 29.4 percent (5-for-17) from downtown.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East Conference play at Eastern Connecticut on Saturday, Dec. 12 (3 p.m.).