BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University picked up its third straight win as the Hawks defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 62-56, in Commonwealth Coast Conference play Saturday afternoon.
With the win the Hawks move to .500 in conference play for the first time this season, going to 8-8 (9-14 overall). Wentworth also now sits at 8-8 in the CCC and 11-12 overall.
Zac Campbell (Woodbridge, Conn.) started things off with a layup in the opening minute before Wentworth's Jherson Colon (Boston, Mass.) tied the game up with a pair of free throws. Ryan Palumbo (Warwick, R.I.) later knocked down a jumper to regain the lead for the Hawks.
RWU stayed on top for the following six minutes before Ronnie Turner (Lewiston, Maine) gave the Leopards their first lead with a layup at the 11:12 mark. The Hawks tied the game three times over the remainder of the half but could not go back up over the rest of the period. Chris Bardwell (North Andover, Mass.) was able to knot the game at 24 apiece on RWU's last possession of the half. With his bucket, both teams went into the break tied.
Derek Mayo (Casco, Maine) put in the first points of the second half, but the Hawks would use a Josh Syska (Peabody, Mass.) three to take a 31-28 lead with 17:15 to play. Turner later hit a trey at 13:05 to bring Wentworth back on top by two (40-38).
On the next Hawk possession, Tom Carton (Essex Junction, Vt.) hit a three of his own to help spark a 14-2 RWU run to put the home team up by a ten-point margin (52-42). The Leopards clawed their way back, pulling within two (52-50) with under four minutes to play.
Joseph Henry (Medway, Mass.) helped shift the momentum in favor of the Hawks with 1:25 to play. With the shot clock about to expire, Alex Barry (Brookfield, Conn.) found Henry six feet behind the three-point line for a deep trey to double the Hawks' lead and make it a six-point game (58-52).
Palumbo had the final big defensive stop for RWU, swiping away a Colon crossover and getting fouled on a fastbreak layup attempt on the other end. He would knock down his free throws to build the RWU advantage to nine with 41 seconds to play and help seal the win.
Syska led the Hawks with 15 points and five rebounds, while Bardwell added 12 points and six boards off the bench. Palumbo stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Colon led all scorers with 17 for Wentworth with four rebounds and a pair of blocks. Ray Bessette (Dedham, Maine) finished a rebound shy of a double-double, going for 13 points and nine boards. John-Michael Fragnoli (Scotia, N.Y.) added 12 points off the bench, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor.
Roger Williams has its final regular season home game on Tuesday against Gordon, while Wentworth goes to Endicott on the same day.
(Portions of this recap courtesy of Roger Williams Sports Information)