BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men’s Basketball team could not snap its losing streak Tuesday evening, as the Hawks fell for the third straight game, this time to Anna Maria College by a 66-81 score.
On hand for the action was Cox Sports, who came down to film the final home game of the regular season for the Hawks. For fans who want to catch the game, the re-broadcast will be aired Thursday, February 11 at 10:00 p.m. on Cox Sports, channel 3 for Cox Cable subscribers.
Junior de la Hoz (Lawrence, Mass.) carried the AMCATS in the first half, scoring 15 of his game-high 23 points in the period on 6-of-8 shooting including three treys. Fellow team captain Chris Pinsonault (Marlboro, Mass.) helped close the game out with 12 points in the second half, finishing with 22 in the game.
All five starters for the Hawks scored in double figures, led by Gary Madison (Waterbury, Conn.) with 15, followed by Taylor Petruccelli (Stratford, Conn.) and his 12 points and 13 rebounds. Tom Rafael (Ladera Ranch, Calif.), Pat Flanagan (Somerville, Mass.), and Corey Fava (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) each added ten.
The Hawks trailed by only five at the end of the first half, though the team had trouble protecting the paint. Anna Maria grabbed 12 of its 18 offensive rebounds in the game during the period, while outscoring the Hawks 16-8 in the paint during the half.
The AMCATS’ largest lead in the frame was a 39-28 with 1:56 to play in the half before the Hawks closed the period on an 8-2 run.
After shooting 50 percent from the field in the first half, the Hawks went cold in the final frame, only hitting shots at a 36.4 percent clip in the period, including going 0-for-11 from downtown.
The AMCAT lead hovered between three and seven over the opening nine minutes before Derek Johnson’s (Worcester, Mass.) layup put Anna Maria back up by ten. A three-point play Petrucelli made it a 57-63 game with 5:32 left, but the AMCATS scored on five of their next six possession to extend the lead to 14 with 1:43 to play.
Anna Maria closed the game hitting 7-of-11 from the line to hold on for the win.
Roger Williams (11-11, 3-7 TCCC) looks to keep its playoff hopes alive Saturday at Regis College at 3:00 p.m., while Anna Maria (10-12, 2-8 TCCC) heads up to New England College Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. game.