Box Score BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team notched its first win of the year with a 68-66 win over Daniel Webster College Friday evening in the opening game of the Courtyard By Marriott Tip-Off Tournament. Western Connecticut State collected the win in the second game of the evening, winning 94-77 over Bowdoin College.
 
In the opener, Nick Marini (Loudonville, N.Y.) scored the first basket of the game with a three pointer to put the Hawks in the lead. Jaylen Jennings (Norwalk, Conn.) later pushed the Hawks forward with four consecutive baskets for nine points.
 
The Hawks furthered their lead with baskets by Jake LePrevost (Lee, Mass.), Andrew Wasik (Gainesville, Fla.) and Conor O'Brien (Sharon, Mass.).
 
Rondell Best (Brockton, Mass.) scored another basket for Daniel Webster to make the score 33-21 in favor of the Hawks with five minutes to go. Ryan Gauthier (Nashua, N.H) landed another basket, bringing the gap to eight points.
 
Wasik put up four points with two minutes left in the half. Leonardo Atkinson (Nantucket, Mass.) followed with another two points, the score now 38-28. With a smooth pass from Wasik, Atkinson scored the last two points of the half with a layup, leaving the score at 42-32 going into the second.
 
The Hawks held on to their lead in the second with a layup to start from Alex Puzone (North Haven, Conn.), assisted by Marini. The Eagles retaliated with two baskets by Gauthier. 
 
Puzone pushed forward with an almost identical layup, assisted yet again by Marini, increasing the Hawks lead to 50-38.
 
Donny Powell (New Rochelle, N.Y.) tipped in a missed layup, adding two points to the Eagles score. Possession remained back in forth in the latter part of the half. The Hawks remained a steady ten points ahead throughout the period.
 
Farmer tightened the gap to six with a quick layup, with the score 60-54 with six minutes left in the game. Wasik came back with a layup as well, adding two more points on the board for the Hawks. Michael Campbell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) hit two seamless free throws to keep the Eagles alive. Campbell nearly closed the gap with a rebound basket, bringing the Eagles within striking distance, the score 63-61 with three minutes to go.
 
Daniel Webster attempted to eliminate the gap with a shot on net, but Atkinson swept in with the essential rebound. Roger Williams attempted to solidify their lead by two with one minute to go. Jennings came in with the basket for the Hawks, easing the tension. Gauthier scored two points with 30 seconds left in the game, the gap at two yet again. Wasik and Coene were both fouled, landing one shot each. With ten seconds left in the game the score remained in favor of the Hawks at 68-64. Farmer hit a layup at the five second mark. The Hawks went on an offensive drive to end the game, but lost possession. Farmer was left with the ball with 3 seconds on the board, missing his half-court shot by inches. The Hawks were able to clinch the win, the final score a close 68-66.
 
Farmer led the Eagles with 20 points. For the Hawks, Marini came out on top with 12 points and six assists, with Jaylen Jennings close behind at 11 points. Atkinson and Best stayed aggressive under the hoop, leading their teams with 11 total rebounds each.
 
In the second game, Bowdoin's Jack Simonds (Falmouth, Maine) put up the first two points of the game with a jumper from the middle center, followed by baskets by teammates Neil Fuller (Sandy Springs, Ga.) and Lucas Hausman (Westport, Conn.).
 
Luis Bridtter (Stamford, Conn.) brought the Colonials in the lead for the first time at the 15-minute mark, making the score 8-7.
 
Both teams fought hard throughout the first half with stealth and athleticism. Western Connecticut led at the ten minute mark by seven points, the score 20-13.
 
Rashard Rodriguez (Trumbull, Conn.) increased the Colonials lead by hitting a three-pointer, followed by a jumper from teammate Tre'von Perry (Waterbury, Conn).
 
The Polar Bears were unable to stop their opponent's offensive drives and quick shots, falling behind 14 points with five minutes left in the half.
 
The Colonials increased their lead to 43-23, going into the second half with a substantial advantage.
 
Bridtter played a solid first half for Western Connecticut leading the Colonials with eight points and eight rebounds.
 
Competitive play continued from both teams throughout the second half. Western Connecticut maintained a comfortable lead while Bowdoin attempted to chip away. Bowdoin struggled defensively against the Colonial's quick offense and three pointers. Western Connecticut controlled the boards along with solid defensive efforts. Both teams fell into foul trouble in the latter part of the second half.
 
Western Connecticut controlled the remainder of the game, securing their 20-point lead with only minutes to go.
 
Jack Hewitt (Scarsdale, N.Y.) scored the last points of the game for Bowdoin with a layup, but Western Connecticut came away with the win.
 
 
Hausman led all scorers with 34 points, while Simonds added 14 points and seven rebounds. Bridtter finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Jauch Green (Hartford, Conn.), Tracy Rumley (Meriden, Conn.), and Phil Starks (Hartford, Conn.) each scored 14.
 
Roger Williams and Western Connecticut will go head to head tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the Championship game in the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament. Daniel Webster and Bowdoin will play at 1 p.m. in the tournament's Consolation game.