DUDLEY, Mass – In a close game that featured 20 lead changes and 10 ties, the Roger Williams men's basketball team opened The Commonwealth Coast Conference play with a 62-57 road victory over Nichols College Saturday afternoon. The Hawks improve to 9-4 overall and 1-0 in league play after their third-straight win. Nichols, which was idle since December 11, falls to 3-8 overall and 0-1 in TCCC games.
Roger Williams benefitted from 25 points at the free-throw line, finishing with the game firing 78.1% (25-32). On the opposite end, Nichols shot a blistering 84.2% on a 16-19 effort led by a 10-11 performance from first year Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.). Sheehan finished the night with a game-high 20 points and six rebounds. Justin Kuntz (Wallingford, Conn.) added 17 points and three steals for the Bison on 7-11 shooting from the field.
Mike Engemann (Red Bank, N.J.) led Roger Williams with 15 points, including three from outside the arc, while Corey Fava (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) added 13 points and four assists, getting eight points at the charity stripe (8-10).
Sheehan drained three free throws with 1:42 remaining to give the Bison a 53-52 lead, but the Hawks took the lead for good when Taylor Petruccelli (Stratford, Conn.) hit a jumper on the next possession. Roger Williams went 6-for-6 at the line down the stretch to take the game. Through the final five minutes, Roger Williams scored 11 of its 19 points at the stripe.
The first half featured 11 lead changes, with Roger Williams building its largest lead of five points with 3:08 left to play on an Engemann three-pointer. The Bison finished the half on a 10-4 run to hold a 27-26 lead at the break.
Nichols outscored its visitors, 18-4, in the paint, but Roger Williams' bench held a 33-23 point advantage in the game. Roger Williams turned Nichols' 15 turnovers into 15 points, while the Bison made 14 points out of the Hawks' 20 turnovers.
The Bison continue TCCC action Tuesday at home with a 7:30 p.m. game against Endicott. Roger Williams hosts Western New England College Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Release courtesy of Nichols College Sports Information Department
