BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team survived a late rush by the visitors from Lesley University.  The Hawks held a lead throughout the game, but their opponents kept it close and erased a nine point deficit and cut the lead to one before RWU was able to pull away in the final thirty seconds to get the team's second win of the season by a score of 76-72.  The Hawks advance to the Championship game of the Courtyard by Marriot Tournament where they will play Trinity College.

At the start of the game the two teams battled back and forth sharing the lead in the opening ten minutes.  The home team was able to develop and maintain a lead, having the edge with the score at 39-34 heading into the half.

The second half would see the Hawks keep control of the small lead, with the resilient work of Lesley keeping them in the game.  After a layup by Gary Madison (Waterbury, Conn.) that was set up by a rebound by Pat Flanagan (Somerville, Mass.) and an assist from Corey Fava (Aliso Viejo, Calif.), the Hawks went up by nine, 65-56, with 4:51 remaining.  After a timeout, Jermaine Harris (Haverhill, Mass.) drained a three set up by John Sanchez (Carson, Calif.) to begin the comeback.  In the next three minutes the Lynx would fight back to make the final minute interesting.  The Hawks turned the ball over on an illegal screen with 48 seconds to go that set up a layup by Jesus Trejo (Methuen, Mass.) that brought them within one.  After a couple of missed free throws by the Lynx and key rebounds by Taylor Petruccelli (Stratford, Conn.) and Fava, the home team was able to regain its composure and finish the game on top, 76-72.

Madison led the Hawks in scoring with 31 points.  Fava led the team in assists dishing out seven and contributing with six points all from the free throw line, four of which were in the final minute.  Flanagan controlled the boards for the Hawks with nine rebounds as well as four blocked shots and 11 points, and Petruccelli would pull down seven boards with 16 points on the night.  Travis O'Dell (Brunswick, Maine) turned in a strong defensive performance with four steals and eight points for RWU.  The visitors were led by Trejo with 24 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.  Also scoring was Alexander Green III (Plainsboro, N.J.) with ten points and John Sanchez led the lynx with seven assists.

With the win the Hawks improve to 2-0 on the season while the Lynx drop to 0-3 on the year.  Lesley University will play Saturday at 1 p.m. against Fisher College who was defeated by Trinity in the late game.  Roger Williams will play Trinity at 3 p.m. in the Championship game of the Courtyard by Marriot Tournament.