Box Score BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball had its 2015-16 debut spoiled by Coast Guard Academy Saturday afternoon, falling 76-86 to the Bears.
 
Josh Syska (Peabody, Mass.) went 1-for-2 at the line on the Hawks' third possession of the game for the first point of the season. Micah Baldez (Lower Gywnedd, Pa.) responded with a three-pointer for the Bears to give them the lead. From that point on, Coast Guard never trailed in the remainder of the half. Roger Williams tied the game three separate times in the period but were never able to go back on top.
 
Baldez converted a three-point play with 1:03 to play in the period to give the Bears its largest lead of the game, a nine-point advantage (43-34). However, the Hawks were able to get back-to-back layups from Nick Marini (Loudonville, N.Y.) in the final minute to bring the deficit within five (38-43) to end the half.
 
In the second period, RWU managed to tie the game again at 44 on a Marini jumper, but still could not regain the lead. Coast Guard used a 9-2 run capped off by a layup from Mark Krebs (Ballwin, Mo.) to go up by seven with 14:52 left. The Hawks managed to bring it back within one (54-55) on an inside bucket by Conor O'Brien (Sharon, Mass.) with 13:04 left. However, the Hawk offense stalled from that point, scoring only two points over the next eight minutes, allowing Coast Guard to build the lead to a game-high 15.
 
From there, Coast Guard held on to it double-digit lead until the final minute, when the Hawks began to send the Bears to the line to try to chip away at the deficit. Coast Guard would hit nine of its final 12 free throws to hold on for the win.
 
Baldez led all scorers with 18 points to go along with four assists. Adrian Chuquilangui (Manassas, Va.) added 17 points, while Kevin Alvarez (Key Biscayne, Fla.) and Ethan Boose (New Philadelphia, Ohio) each finished with 11 points.
 
Marini and Austin Coene (Tyngsborough, Mass.) each led Roger Williams with 16 points, with Syska adding 15 points and five rebounds. Andrew Wasik (Gainesville, Fla.) scored 11 points with one assist.
 
Roger Williams (0-1) hosts Daniel Webster in the Courtyard By Marriott Tip-Off next Friday, while Coast Guard (1-0) welcomes Salve Regina on Wednesday.