Roger Williams Outlasts Men's Basketball

BRISTOL, R.I. – A layup by junior Drew Hart (Cheshire, Conn.) with 1:31 left in regulation gave the Roger Williams University men's basketball team a 69-68 lead and the Hawks held on to defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 78-73, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Saturday afternoon.

Roger Williams improves to 13-7 overall and 5-6 in CCC play while the Leopards fall to 12-8 (5-6).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

LEADING SCORERS:  Stephen Azums, 16; Noah Bice, 13; Kyle Henseler, 10
LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Stephen Azums, 12; Conor Rubenskas, 7
ASSIST LEADER:  Kyle Henseler, 4

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth took its first lead of the game after back-to-back baskets from senior Stephen Azums (Hyde Park, Mass.) and junior Tyler Lennon (Atkinson, N.H.) made it 4-2, 1:33 into the contest. Roger Williams used an 11-0 run, capped off by a pair of free senior Bryan Donovan (Gainesville, Fla.), to take a 13-4 lead with 14:32 remaining in the half. The Hawks led by as many as 10 on six different occasions in the first half and on five of those occasions the Leopards were able to get back within six, including on a junior Trey Carrier (Wilton, N.H.) layup with 1:48 left. Roger Williams carried a 36-29 lead into the locker room.
• The Hawks extended their lead to 14 with 17:46 remaining in the contest after a three pointer from sophomore Eli Harris (Falmouth, Mass.). A 12-0 Wentworth run pulled the Black & Gold back within a pair with 13:27 left after a sophomore Noah Bice (Woodacre, Calif.) three pointer. Roger Williams built its lead to six on a pair of occasions, including on a jumper from Harris with 8:09 remaining, however, the Black & Gold scored seven of the next nine points to pull within one on a junior Kyle Henseler (Coventry, R.I.) transition layup with just over five minutes left. A little over a minute later, Harris made a jumper which was countered by a three from Bice, tying the game at 63-all with 3:41 remaining.
• Junior JJ Pfohl (Trumbull, Conn.) made a jumper with 2:38 left to put the Hawks on top, 65-63. Henseler gave Wentworth its first lead of the contest when, on the next possession, he converted a three-point play. Harris made a layup down the other end, which was matched by a basket from Bice with 1:35 left. On the Hawks' next possession, Hart put the hosts back on top with a layup, and, after a missed three pointer, senior Rich Pugliese (Middlebury, Conn.) hit a three to put Roger Williams ahead by four with a minute left.
• The Leopards pulled within three on a layup from Azums with 35 seconds left before Harris answered with a layup on the ensuing possession. A missed Wentworth three gave the hosts the ball back where Donovan sealed the win with two free throws.
• Five Hawks finished in double figures, including Pugliese who had a game-high 20 points. Harris added 16 (on 7-for-10 shooting), while Donovan and Hart each had 12. Freshman James Clarkson (Hanover, Mass.) finished with 11.
• Azums notched his 13th double-double of the season as he scored 16 points (on 7-for-12 shooting) while grabbing 12 rebounds. Bice came off the bench to score 13 and Henseler added 10.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today marked the 67th all-time meeting between these two programs. Roger Williams leads 38-29. The two teams split the season series with each winning on its home court.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth hosts Curry on Wednesday, February 5.

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