January 14, 2023

MBB: Late spurt lifts RIC over Panthers

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Plymouth State University trailed by just three points in the final minute of regulation, but Rhode Island College closed the game with a bucket and two free throws to hold on for a 79-72 win over the Panthers in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's basketball game at The Murray Center on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Giorgi Tsiklauri (Brooklyn, N.Y.) drilled a jumper with 38 seconds remaining to pull the Panthers to within three, 75-72, but RIC scored on its ensuing possession. PSU was unable to convert at the other end, but the Anchormen missed a pair of free throws to keep the Panthers' hopes alive.

The RIC defense forced a pair of missed shots, however, and the hosts were successful from the charity stripe with seven seconds remaining to close out the victory.

Junior Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) scored a team-high 25 points, including PSU's first 15 points of the game. Tsiklauri had his best offensive game since the opening week of the season, finishing with 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Plymouth State slips to 7-9 (1-7 LEC), while the Anchormen improve to 5-10 and 3-4 in conference play.

The Basics:

• Plymouth State 72, RIC 79
  • Plymouth State (7-9, 1-7 LEC)
  • RIC (5-10, 3-4 LEC)

How it Happened:

• The teams went back-and-forth to open the contest, with the Anchormen holding an 11-5 lead after the first 4:24.
• Bosse poured in the first 15 points for PSU, including three three-pointers, with his jumper cutting the deficit to 17-15 with 11:20 left in the half.
• RIC answered from inside, but the Panthers took control with a 14-0 run behind Tsiklauri's sharp shooting. The 6-4 guard knocked down three triples and had 11 points in the run, with senior Ty Thomas (Manchester, N.H.) also connecting from beyond the arc to give PSU a 29-19 lead.
• Thomas got to the basket with under four minutes remaining as the Panthers took their largest lead of the game, 33-21, with 3:49 left in the half.
• RIC got to within one late in the half, but a free throw from freshman Maxwell Galbraith (Hanover, N.H.) gave the Panthers a two-point cushion, 36-34, as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
• The teams see-sawed with the lead trading hands several times over the first five minutes of the second half.
• The hosts knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game at 52-52 with 12:33 remaining, but junior Rylan Canabano (Concord, N.H.) hit from deep to restore the lead.
• The game was knotted again, 56-56, with 9:21 to play, before the hosts jumped in front for good.
• PSU cut the deficit to one, 63-62, on Tsiklauri's layup, but the Anchormen responded with an 11-3 run to make it a nine-point game.
• Tsiklauri's jumper pulled the Panthers to within 75-72 with only 38 seconds remaining, but the hosts answered immediately at the other end. PSU went cold from the field, missing three straight shots, and RIC iced the game with a pair of free throws in the final seconds.

By the Numbers:

• Bosse finished with 25 points on 11-of-23 shooting, including 3-of-6 from distance. He added eight boards and five assists to his stat line and was especially impressive in the opening half. Over the first 20 minutes he nailed 6-of-8 shots, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, for 15 points.
• Tsiklauri reached the 20-point threshold for the first time since the team's second game of the year, matching a season-high with four threes. He added five rebounds and five assists.
• Junior Alex Dean (Reading, Mass.) and Thomas added eight points apiece, while Canabano chipped in seven points, eight rebounds, three assists and four steals.
• PSU went 28-of-73 from the floor (38.4%) and made 12-of-36 (33.3%) from deep.
• The Anchormen caught fire in the second half, shooting nearly 60% over the 20 minutes, to finish 28-of-54 (51.9%) for the game.
• RIC held a 46-36 edge on the boards.
• The back-and-forth game saw 12 lead changes and two ties.
• The teams have split the last 12 meetings.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State hosts New England College in non-conference action on Wednesday (Jan. 18) at 6:00 p.m.

– 30 –