PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Rhode Island College men's basketball team erased a 12-point deficit for a 75-61 win over Eastern Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference matchup Wednesday evening at the Murray Center.
The loss is only the second in ten road games this year for Eastern (11-5, 3-5 LEC). Rhode Island (12-5, 7-1 LEC) won for the ninth time in the last ten games, having lost only once (to nationally-ranked LEC opponent Keene State College on Saturday) since Dec. 1. The Warriors fall into a four-way tie for fourth place in the LEC while the Anchormen remain a game behind Keene State (14-3, 8-0 LEC), which dumped UMass Dartmouth on the road Wednesday, 108-96.
Eastern's largest lead was 27-15 and the Warriors led for 90 percent of the first half before the Anchormen cut it to 35-33 going into the second. RIC started the half with 13 unanswered points to pull away.
The Anchormen were coming off of their first LEC loss against top seeded Keene State, ending their eight-game winning streak.
The Warriors returned 6-foot-7 inch junior forward Jalen Hamblin (West Hartford) who had not played since scoring 29 points December 4 against University of Southern Maine. Hamblin, who had missed eight games, came off the bench against RIC for nine points, four rebounds and two blocks in16 minutes.
Six-foot-seven inch fifth-year forward Ousmane Kourouma – the nation's leading rebounder (15.3 rpg.) and a returning first-team All-LEC player -- had his 14th double-double this season (tied for the NCAA lead) -- with 16 points and 17 rebounds.
Senior guard Dwayne Robinson-O'Hagan, sixth in the LEC in scoring, had a game high 32 points as the hosts got all but four points and four rebounders from their starters.
Eastern sophomore forward Julian Sanchez (Willimantic) led the team with eight rebounds but was limited to four points and just 23 minutes. Senior guard Dominick Dao (Terryville) had team-high 14 points along with five rebounds and two steals. Sophomore guard Esco Greene (New Britain) chipped in five points, six rebounds, and six assists. Sophomore guard Cedrick Similien (Norwich) had 13 points, three steals and three rebounds.
The Warriors return home to host UMass Boston Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The Beacons (8-8, 3-5 LEC) defeated Eastern in the first meeting of the season at the Clark Athletic Center, 77-70, sinking all 11 of their free throws and holding Eastern to 38 percent shooting from the floor. A loser of six of its previous seven, UMB ended a four-game losing streak Wednesday behind 30 points and eight rebounds from senior guard Emanuel Zayas in an 89-85 LEC win at VTSU Castleton.