BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team ended 2019 with a 90-76 home victory over Westfield State University Monday afternoon in the team's final game before the New Year.
 
Hawk Highlights
Rich Pugliese (Middlebury, Conn.): 23 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Drew Hart (Cheshire, Conn.): 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 3 steals
Doug Hostetler (Somers, Conn.): 14 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Eli Harris (Falmouth, Mass.): 12 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists
 
For The Opponents
Jauch Green, Jr. (Hartford, Conn.): 25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Malik Pouncy (Mattapan, Mass.): 19 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Brendon Hamilton (Worcester, Mass.): 11 rebounds, 2 points, 2 blocks, 2 steals
Joseph Meade (Westfield, Mass.): 8 rebounds, 4 points, 1 assist, 3 blocks
 
How It Happened
Westfield State began the game on a 6-2 run before the Hawks came back to tie things up at eight apiece. With the score later knotted at 12, back-to-back threes by Drew Hart and Bryan Donovan (Gainesville, Fla.) for Roger Williams put RWU by six with ten minutes left in the opening half. The Hawks would extend the advantage to double digits with a trey by Rich Pugliese to make it 30-18 with three minutes left in the half.
 
The Hawks would go into halftime up by 15 (37-22), despite only shooting 38.9 percent from the field in the period. The Owls also struggled offensively in the half, shooting 29.0 percent from the floor and only 33.3 percent from the free throw line.
 
Roger Williams came out of the break on a 15-5 run to take their largest lead of the game up to that point. Westfield State would then put on the full court press to help cut into the RWU deficit. The Owls managed to pull within 12 with 5:31 to play. However could make it a single digit game, with RWU coming away with the win.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams (8-3): Thursday, January 2 at Worcester State @ 4:00pm
Westfield State (7-5): Sunday, January 5 at Wheaton (MA) @ 2:00pm