Men's Basketball Edged by RIC, 56-53

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island College men's basketball team knocked off Bridgewater State, 56-53, on Tuesday night at The Murray Center in non-conference action.

Bridgewater State (1-2) stormed out to a hot start and held an 11-2 lead in the opening minutes of action, capped off by a layup from sophomore forward Kyle Gibson (Franklin, MA) with 16:54 on the clock. However, a three-pointer from junior guard Michael Palumbo (Providence, RI) with 14:30 remaining in the first half spearheaded a seven-point run for Rhode Island College (3-0) and pulled the Anchormen to within two.

RIC eventually took a 14-13 lead, its first of the game, on a jumper from sophomore forward Chris Burton (New Rochelle, N.Y.) with 11:58 left in the frame. The two teams exchanged baskets over the next few minutes until the Bears regained the advantage following a bucket from sophomore forward Michael Lofton (Mansfield, MA) with 6:15 on the clock that made it, 22-21. However, that would prove to be the last lead of the game for Bridgewater State as the Anchormen rallied to close out the first half on a 12-0 run en route to an 11-point halftime edge.

After RIC took a 14-point with 9:18 remaining on a jumper from junior guard Tom DeCiantis (North Kingstown, RI), the Bears rallied to cut the deficit to just three with 3:12 left to play following an 11-0 run. Holding on to a 50-47 lead with less than three minutes to play, the Anchormen took care of the basketball and connected on the majority of their free throw attempts down the stretch to fend off the Bears and record their third win of the season.

Burton posted 13 points, six rebounds and a pair of steals to lead RIC, while senior guard Tahrike Carter (Brooklyn, NY) added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocks.

Aside from Burton and Carter, junior guard Nyheem Sanders (Pawtucket, RI) paced RIC with 11 points, two rebounds and two assists, while DeCiantis chipped in with eight points and three rebounds. Palumbo added six points, four rebounds and four assists off the bench.

The Bears were led by senior guard Shawn Yard (Brockton, MA), who finished with a game-high 15 points. Gibson tallied 10 points, five steals and three rebounds, while Lofton totaled six points, 10 rebounds, seven steals, four assists and two blocks.

Rhode Island College shot 42 percent (21-for-50) from the field, 24 percent (5-for-21) from downtown and 53 percent (9-for-17) from the free throw line. Bridgewater State shot 39 percent (20-for-51) from the floor, 22 percent (4-for-18) from beyond the arc and 50 percent (9-for-18) from the free throw line.

The Anchormen outrebounded the Bears, 37-33, and corralled 14 offensive rebounds as a team, but lost the turnover battle after coughing up the ball 20 times. Bridgewater State lost 18 turnovers, but finished a total of 15 steals on the defensive end.