BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team edged out a close win over Regis College Saturday afternoon by a 64-57 margin to remain in sixth place in The Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Although the Hawks held the lead for most of the game, the Pride steadily remained in striking distance, keeping its deficit at no greater than six for a majority of the time.

The Hawks jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on baskets by Billy Barrett (Fairfield, Conn.) and Tucker Bashaw (Williston, Vt.) before a pair of three's by Derrick Neal (Boston, Mass.) gave Regis a one-point lead. Pat Flanagan (Somerset, Mass.) put the Hawks back on top with a jumper at the 16:44 mark. RWU would not trail again until Neal's tip-in with 4:55 left in the first half gave Regis a slim 26-24 advantage. Closing out the period on an 8-3 run, the Hawks went into the break with a 32-29 lead.

In the second half, RWU maintained its advantage over Regis, slowly building the lead to ten with 13 minutes to play, its largest of the game. Yet the Pride continued to make its way back into the game, trading baskets and chipping away at the deficit until Regis finally pulled within one on a jumper by Neal with 2:58 to play.

Five straight points by Flanagan gave RWU a little breathing room, making it a 58-52 game with 1:29 to play. The Pride rallied one last time, as James Cooper's (Philadelphia, Pa.) free throws brought Regis within four with under a minute and a half to play. Yet the Hawks' defense and shooting at the charity stripe helped put the game away. RWU shot 6-of-8 at the line in the final minute of play while holding the Pride 1-of-5 over that same stretch, with the lone field a three-pointer with a second to play to make it a seven-point gap rather than ten.

Flanagan led the Hawks with 18 points and four blocks, with Barrett scoring 15 for RWU. Ryan McGinn (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) chipped in with five points and seven assists.

Neal led all scorers with 20 points for the Pride, with teammate Cooper adding 11 and four assists.  

Roger Williams (10-13, 6-5 TCCC) hosts Curry College Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., while Regis (8-14, 2-9 TCCC) takes on Nichols Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.