Box Score BRISTOL, R.I.—The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team opened their season Wednesday night with an 83-76 win over the United States Coast Guard Academy in Bristol, R.I.
 
The first half was back-and-forth for the entire 20 minutes. The Bears grabbed a quick 5-0 lead to open up the game. It took a few minutes, but the Hawks worked their way back into it. An Austin Coene (Tyngsborough, Mass.) jumper gave the Hawks the 8-7 lead four minutes into action. Coene followed up with a three-pointer, assisted by Nick Marini (Loudonville, N.Y.). A layup by Conor O'Brien (Sharon, Mass.) would extend the Hawks' lead even more.
 
The Hawks would continue to add to the lead, but the Bears would chip away to get themselves back in it.  A jumper by Packy Wikowski with three and a half minutes left in the half would tie it back up at 33.
 
The last few minutes of the half would once again stay tight between the squads. The Hawks were able to get out to a seven-point lead before the Bears could answer. A pair of made free throws by Witkowski would pull the Bears within five, but the Hawks would not allow the Bears to have the last word of the half. JJ Pfohl (Trumbull, Conn.) hit a long buzzer-beater to put the score at 46-38.
 
A steal and a breakaway layup by Coene was the first play of the second half.
 
Five baskets by the Bears cut the Hawks' lead to three. A foul by Jaylen Jennings (Norwalk, Conn.) put Noah Baldez on the line and allowed the Bears to pull within two.
 
The Bears came within one on a Baldez three, but Drew Hart (Cheshire, Conn.) responded with a layup.
 
The Hawks kept the lead the first half of the second half. The Bear consistently came within a few points of tying it up or pulling ahead, but the home team would ensure that they maintained the lead.
 
The Hawks were able to pull out to a double-digit lead with about five minutes left in the game. Back-to-back three-pointers by O'Brien and Jennings gave the Hawks a 13-point lead in the last few minutes of play.
 
The Bears put on a full-court press with a minute and a half left in hopes to gain some late momentum.
 
The Hawks did not give up the lead in the second half and won by a final score of 83-76.
 
Coene led the Hawks with 25 points and tied with O'Brien with nine rebounds.
 
The Hawks will host a tournament this weekend in which they will face Emmanuel College in the opening round of bracket play.