Men’s Hoop Loses Road Contest at RIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Regis College put together a second-half rally to cut a double-digit deficit to five points, but Rhode Island College was able to pull away for a 97-77 victory Sunday evening in a non-conference men's collegiate basketball game at the Murray Center.

For the second time this season, five players reached double figures in scoring for the Pride, led by Marc Trinidad (Bronx, N.Y.) with 19 points and nine rebounds. Jalil Wilkerson (New Haven, Conn.) scored 17 points, while Cam Wilkins (Taunton, Mass.) collected 12 points and five rebounds. Devante Thompson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) contributed 11 points and two steals, and Jalen Watson (Woonsocket, R.I.) added 10 points off the bench.

Rhode Island College (6-1) jumped out to a 15-4 lead five minutes into the contest before Regis put together an 8-1 scoring run, capped by a layup from Gibou Njie (Miramar, Fla.), to close to within four at 16-12. The Anchormen rattled off a 17-4 scoring stretch thanks to the combination of Shion Darby (10 points) and Keyshaun Jacobs (seven points) to extend their lead to 33-16 with seven minutes remaining in the half.

Watson hit two three-pointers to key a 10-2 scoring run for the Pride, bringing their deficit back into single digits. However, baskets by Jacobs and Darby in the final minute helped Rhode Island College increase its lead to 43-32 heading into halftime.

The Anchormen scored the first six points of the second half to establish a 17-point advantage once again. Down 63-45 after a jumper by Jonatan Batista, Regis battled back, going on a 12-2 scoring run, punctuated by a traditional three-point play from Trinidad, to close to within eight at 65-57 with eight minutes left in the second half.

Jacobs hit a three-pointer two minutes later, but the Pride quickly responded with six straight points on a three-pointer by Thompson and a three-point play from Wilkins. The Anchormen scored the next six points that included a dunk by Benjamin Vezele, but he was assessed a technical foul for hanging on the rim, starting a brief 5-0 stretch for the Pride that featured a three-pointer from Wilkerson.

That would be as close as the Pride would come, as Rhode Island College closed out the game with an 18-4 scoring run over the final three-and-a-half minutes. As a team, the Anchormen shot 52.2 percent (36-of-69) from the field, including 9-of-25 from behind the three-point line, and 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from the free throw line.

Jacobs hit six three-pointers as he led the Anchormen with 33 points, while Darby finished with 28 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Vezele also notched a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Tim Deng added 12 points and seven rebounds as the Anchormen won the rebounding battle, 48-41.

The Pride shot just 37 percent (27-of-73) from the field, including 6-of-18 from behind the three-point line, and 58.6 percent (17-of-29) from the free throw line. Regis committed 18 turnovers that led to 22 points by Rhode Island College, while the Pride scored only 14 points off 17 Anchormen turnovers.

Regis (1-5) plays its final game before the Christmas break Saturday, Dec. 7, against Suffolk University in a non-conference home contest starting at 1 p.m.