BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team clinched the Courtyard by Marriott Tip-Off championship with a 69-61 win over Trinity College Saturday afternoon.

Leading the way for the Hawks was sophomore Gary Madison (Waterbury, Conn.), who scored a game-high 18 points and earning Tournament MVP honors. Junior Taylor Petruccelli (Stratford, Conn.) added 16 points and six rebounds for RWU while being named to the All-Tournament team.

Trinity led early in the game but never more than a basket, with the Bantams' last lead an 8-6 advantage coming at the 16:30 mark in the first half off of a Chris Applegate (High Point, N.C.) layup. After a pair of free throws by Travis O'Dell (Brunswick, Maine) on the next Hawk possession tied the game up at eight, Madison's jumper a minute later put RWU up 10-8. From there, Roger Williams would build its lead over the remainder of the period, eventually going into the break up by a 37-26 margin.

Brian Ford (Bronx, N.Y.) opened up the beginning of the second half to pull the Bantams within eight, leading to both teams trading baskets over the first five minutes of the half. Trailing 47-38 with 15:28 to play, Trinity ran off six straight points on a layup by Cameron Sutton (Queens, N.Y.) and a free throw and three pointer by Mick Distasio (Yarmouth, Maine) to pull within three with 13:04 remaining.

Trinity kept the game close over the next seven minutes, with their deficit hovering between five and three. The Hawk defense would not allow Trinity to regain the lead, extending their advantage to 55-49 and holding on to it into the final two minutes of the game. The Bantams, down 54-59, tried to force the Hawks to hit foul shots over the final 97 seconds of the game to climb their way back in, but the Hawks went 10-of-12 at the charity stripe to close out the game en route to an eight-point win.

Applegate nearly finished with a double-double, going for a team-high 15 points and nine rebounds while earning All-Tournament honors. Teammate Ford was also named all-tournament, scoring seven in the game.

Fisher College defeated Lesley University 83-61 in the consolation game prior to the Hawks' game.

Roger Williams (3-0) hosts Connecticut College Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., while Trinity (1-1) will be on the road at Eastern Connecticut State University for a 5:30 p.m. game.

Friday, November 20

Roger Williams University 76 – Lesley University 72

Trinity College 79 – Fisher College 75

Saturday, November 21

Consolation Game – Fisher College 83 – Lesley University 61

Championship Game – Roger Williams University 69 – Trinity College61

All-Tournament Team

Jesus Trejo – Lesley University

Louis Williams – Fisher College

Chris Applegate – Trinity College

Brian Ford – Trinity College

Taylor Petruccelli - Roger Williams University

Gary Madison - Roger Williams University (Tournament MVP)

Tournament Champions - Roger Williams University