Men’s Basketball Loses Close Game to RIC

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College took the lead at the end of the first half and held it through the early part of the second half, but Rhode Island College regained the advantage and held on for a 61-56 victory Monday evening in a non-conference men's collegiate basketball game at Higgins Court.

Shawn Wedderburn (Bronx, N.Y.) notched his third double-double in the past four games, leading the Pride with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Ademola Afonja (Staten Island, N.Y.) finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocked shots, and Josh Germain (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) added seven points, three rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots.

Rhode Island College (8-2) jumped on top thanks to a three-pointer by Jonathan Batista and remained ahead for the vast majority of the first half. The Anchormen extended their lead to 27-20 with 5:43 left in the first half on a three-pointer by Adham Floyd, but the Pride scored the last eight points of the opening half, with Wedderburn and Germain scoring four points apiece to put Regis ahead, 28-27, at halftime.

Batista hit a three-pointer early in the second half to put Rhode Island College back on top, 34-32, but Regis would respond, eventually pulling ahead, 38-35, on a three-pointer by Isaiah Wilson (Cambria Heights, N.Y.) six minutes into the second half.

The Anchormen took the lead for good with nine unanswered points over a three-minute stretch, starting with a three-pointer by Floyd, who then stole the ball and found Justin Campbell on the fast break for a dunk. Regis closed to within two on a three-pointer by Juvens Dalger (City of Sunrise, Fla.), but that would be as close as the Pride would get the rest of the way, as Rhode Island College scored enough points and made enough stops to hold off the home team.

Benjamin Vezele played the entire game for the Anchormen, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots. Batista also played all 40 minutes, ending up with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals. The entire Rhode Island College starting lineup played the whole second half and scored all but three Anchormen points in the game, as Floyd scored 13 points, Campbell notched a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Deyshawn Tengbeh contributed nine points, seven rebounds, and three steals.

As a team, the Anchormen shot just 34.9 percent (22-of-63) from the field, including 7-of-22 from behind the three-point line, and 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from the free throw line. However, Rhode Island College was able to take advantage of 25 Regis turnovers, scoring 29 points off those mistakes.

The Pride shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the field, including 6-of-16 from behind the three-point line, and 50 percent (4-of-8) from the free throw line. Regis won the rebounding battle, 44-37.

Regis (4-5) does not have another game until the end of December, when it will travel to Standish, Maine, for the Catholic Classic Tournament hosted by Saint Joseph's College. The Pride will face Emmanuel Saturday, Dec. 29, at 3 p.m. and Rivier Sunday, Dec. 30, at 1 p.m., both non-conference contests. Regis's next home game is Wednesday, Jan. 2, against Fitchburg State starting at 6 p.m.