KINGS POINT, N.Y. – The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team kicked off 2010 with a split at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Tournament this past weekend, falling 56-73 to Hobart College before defeating Vaughn College 75-54.

In the opener against Hobart, junior Travis O'Dell (Brunswick, Maine) knocked down a jumper in the opening minute for the Hawks' first basket of the New Year, giving RWU a quick 2-0 lead. The Statesmen would then score seven straight to take a five-point advantage. It would not be until the 8:22 mark that the Hawks would recapture the lead, as freshman Mike Engemann (Red Bank, N.J.) hit a three-pointer to put RWU up 16-15. The score remained close throughout the remainder of the half, with neither team leading by more than four over the final eight minutes. Roger Williams went into halftime holding a 31-28 advantage over Hobart.

Sophomore Pat Flanagan (Somerville, Mass.) hit a layup to begin the half, giving RWU its largest lead at 33-28. Hobart would answer with an 11-5 run to go up by one on the Hawks. Flanagan hit a pair of free throws with 15:52 to play to put the Hawks on top again by a slim 40-39 margin, but that would be RWU's last lead of the game. Mark Bruce hit a jump shot on the ensuing Statesman possession to spark a 7-0 run. RWU was held to only 11 points in the final ten minutes, en route to the 17-point loss.

Flanagan led the Hawks with 16 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Gary Madison (Waterbury, Conn.) added 13 points. Junior Corey Fava (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) chipped in with five points and six assists.

Five players scored in double figures for Hobart, including Matt Pebole with a game-high 19. Stefan Thompson scored 11 with seven rebounds.

The following game against Vaughn College saw the Hawks play from behind throughout the first half. RWU tied the game three times in the first four minutes of the game, including a layup by O'Dell that tied the game at six at the 16:06 point. The Warriors would then rattle off a 12-2 run to put the Hawks in an 8-18 hole. RWU spent the remainder of the half chipping away at the deficit and eventually pulling within two at the conclusion of the period, entering the break down 26-28.

Both teams traded baskets to begin the second half, followed by a jumper by Flanagan that sparked a three-minute, 11-1 Hawk run that put Roger Williams up 41-31 with 15:45 to play. From that point, it would be all Hawks, as RWU would not allow the Warriors to pull within single digits. Roger Williams forced Vaughn to commit 20 turnovers in the period, scoring 35 points on those takeaways in the half. The 21-point margin of victory marked the largest of the season for RWU.

Madison, who was named to the All-Tournament team following the game, led all scorers with 24 points to go along with five assists. Junior Kyle Bogucki (Clinton, Conn.) and freshman Justin Hook (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) added ten points and nine points respectively off the bench.

Levar Smith scored a team-high 12 points for Vaughn College with teammate Jihad Ceaser finishing with a double-double on 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Roger Williams (8-3) will host the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.