JWU Tops RIC In Providence Battle

Providence, R.I.-Despite 15 points, 13 rebounds and six assists from
senior guard Tom DeCiantis (North Kingstown, RI), the Rhode Island
College men's basketball team fell to cross-city rival Johnson &
Wales, 85-75, at The Murray Center in non-conference action on Saturday
afternoon.

Sophomore guard Quarry Greenaway (Westchester,
NY) helped propel Johnson & Wales (6-4) to its fifth straight win
with a game-high 24 points, including 15 in the first half, to go along
with 14 rebounds and five assists. Senior forward Esaie Touze
(Providence, RI) finished with 23 points on 8-of-8 shooting, including
16 in the second half, to go along with a game-high 16 rebounds, two
assists, and two steals.

The Wildcats outrebounded the
Anchormen, 53-35, and hauled in a whopping 16 offensive rebounds as a
team, which led to a grand total of 23 second-chance points for the
visitors. JWU also shot 49 percent (29-for-59) from the floor in the
win.

“We just aren't prepared for the level of intensity
needed to win games,” said Head Coach Bob Walsh. “We don't defend and we
aren't very tough, and ultimately that's my fault.”

Freshman
guard Austin Cilley (Westerly, RI) racked up a team-high 18 points to
go along with a pair of steals to help guide a short-handed Rhode Island
College (6-5) squad. Senior guard Michael Palumbo (Providence, RI)
registered 14 points and six assists, while junior forward Jacob Page
(Brookline, MA) posted seven points and six rebounds.

After
Cilley buried a three-pointer in the first 20 seconds of the ballgame
to give RIC an early lead, JWU responded with a 23-5 run over the next
seven and a half minutes to take a 15-point lead with 12:13 remaining in
the frame. However, the Anchormen managed to turn the tables through
the remainder of the first half, as they bounced back with a 30-17 run
of their own to cut the deficit to just two, 40-38, heading into
intermission.

JWU connected on a whopping 58 percent
(15-for-26) of its shots in the first half and corralled 23 rebounds as a
squad en route to the halftime advantage. Yet, RIC forced the visitors
into nine turnovers and sank 14-of-20 (70 percent) first-half free
throws to keep things close at the break.

After senior
guard Curtis Lucas (Providence, RI) opened the second half with a jumper
to put the Wildcats up by four, Page and sophomore center Mike Neal
(Pawtucket, RI) countered with back-to-back baskets to cut into the lead
and finally tie the game up, 42-42. Yet, JWU followed with seven
unanswered points, keyed by a three-point play from Lucas, to jump ahead
by seven, 49-42, with 15:36 on the clock.

Rhode Island
College slowly chipped away at the deficit over the next four minutes
until a three-pointer from freshman guard Anthony Williams (Waldorf, MD)
capped off a 15-8 run for the Anchormen and tied the game, 57-57, with
11:48 remaining. Moments later, Williams followed with a layup in the
paint to give RIC a 61-59 lead with 10:35 on the clock, its first lead
since the opening minute of the game.

The Wildcats
quickly regained the advantage over the next minute of action after a
free throw from Lucas and a bucket from senior forward Matt Barboza
(Riverside, RI) made it, 62-61, with 9:46 left to play. However, Palumbo
answered back with a three-pointer on the other end to give the
Anchormen a 64-62 lead with 9:23 on the clock.

That would
prove to be the last time the hosts held a lead over JWU, as the
visiting Wildcats pulled away from RIC behind a 23-11 run over the final
nine minutes of the ballgame, en route to the double-digit victory.

JWU
was aided by sophomore guard Robert Lewis (Providence, RI), who
finished with 14 points, including 12 in the first half, to go along
with 10 rebounds and two assists. Lucas chipped in with 13 points, all
in the second half, while Barboza recorded six points, six rebounds, and
four blocks.

Williams finished with six points for RIC
in his first collegiate contest, while junior forward Victor Smith
(Providence, RI) contributed with six points and three rebounds.

Rhode
Island College managed to force the Wildcats into 14 turnovers, while
finishing with just eight miscues in the loss. JWU also shot just 22
percent (2-for-9) from downtown and 58 percent (25-for-43) from the
charity stripe.

On the other end, the Anchormen shot 35
percent (24-for-68) from the field, 33 percent (8-for-24) from beyond
the three-point arc, and 73 percent (19-for-26) from the free throw
line.