BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Rhode Island College men's basketball team knocked off Bridgewater State University, 64-52, on Tuesday night at the Tinsley Center.
With the win, RIC remains unbeaten on the season as the Anchormen improve to 4-0. The host Bears even their record at 2-2. The game was a matchup of two teams that have combined for eight NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in the last five years.
RIC held a commanding 43-25 halftime lead thanks in large part to 22 first half points from senior center Mike Akinrola (Woonsocket, R.I.). The Anchormen shot 60% from the floor in the opening stanza, forced 11 turnovers and limited the hosts to just 30% (10-33) shooting. Akinrola would finish with a game-high 26 points on 12 of 14 shooting to go along with nine rebounds.
A Tom DeCiantis (North Kingstown, R.I.) three-pointer to open the second half gave the visitors their largest lead of the game at 21 points (46-25). The Anchormen would maintain the double-digit lead the rest of the way. Bridgewater would rally in the last stages of the second half but would get no closer than ten points, despite holding the visitors to just 21 points in the final stanza.
Down by 14 points (62-48) with under two minutes remaining, back-to-back Shawn Yard (Brockton, Mass.) layups closed the gap to 62-52. Bridgewater, however, did not take advantage of four straight missed foul shots by the Anchormen as the Bears missed a pair of three-point attempts and another long jumper in the final minute and did not score again.
Senior forward Mason Choice (Newport, R.I.) added 12 points, five rebound and five assists for RIC, while DeCiantis finished with 11 points, four boards, three assists and three steals. The Anchormen shot 55% (27-49) from the floor for the game and assisted on 18 of their 27 made field goals.
Bridgewater was led by junior guard Anthony Fortes (Providence, R.I.) who scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists. Yard finished with ten points, four assists and three steals, while senior guard Corey Ryser (Tewksbury, Mass.) chipped in with ten points. Freshman forward Michael Lofton (Mansfield, Mass.) came off the bench to notch six points, six rebounds, a block and a steal in 15 minutes.
The Bears shot 32% (19-59) for the game, including just 4 of 17 from behind the arc.
The Bears are back in action on Wednesday, November 30th when they travel to UMass Dartmouth to take on the Corsairs at 7:00 PM. RIC travels to Brandeis University on Sunday for a three o'clock game with the Judges.