BRISTOL, R.I. — The #3 seed Roger Williams University Men's Basketball Team took the victory over the #6 seed University of New England in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Quarterfinal this Tuesday, 102-87.
 
The Nor'easters were the first to get points on the board with a jumper from Avery DeBrito (New Bedford, Mass.), followed with a jumper from Drew Hart (Cheshire, Conn.) for the Hawks. Two minutes later and down by four points, Rich Pugliese (Middlebury, Conn.) scored a three-pointer to cut UNE's lead, 6-5.
 
With three-pointers from Austin Coene (Tyngsborough, Mass.), Jake Heaton (Shelton, Conn.), and Pugliese, followed with a layup from Hart, the Hawks went on an 11-4 run with a score of 20-14. RWU kept a strong lead with seven consecutive points from Coene putting the score at 35-22.
 
To cut the Hawks' lead, Ryan Beatty (Rochester, Mass.) made two free throws and a layup with less than four minutes left in the first half. Seconds later, Eli Harris (Falmouth, Mass.) took an assist from Bryan Donovan (Gainesville, Fla.) to make a three-pointer for the Hawks to put the score at 44-32.
 
With less than thirty seconds left in the half, both Doug Hostetler (Somers, Conn.) and Harris made a three-pointer to put the score at 56-36, giving the Hawks a 20-point halftime lead.
 
The teams exchanged baskets for the first ten minutes of the second half. Pugliese contributed ten of these points for the Hawks to make it 77-57.
 
RWU kept nearly a 20-point lead the entire half until Beatty started a 7-2 run with a layup to cut the Hawks' lead to 14 (73-87) with just under five minutes left. The Nor'Easters managed to pull within nine points with a jumper from DeMarquez Hadnot (Pflugerville, Texas) with 1:22 left.
 
UNE had opportunities to pull closer as RWU went 2-for-6 from the line in the final minute, but two turnovers and two missed shots by the Nor'Easters allowed RWU to hold on for the win.
 
Coene led the Hawks with a double-double, going for 25 points and a career-high 19 rebounds. Hart contributed with a career-high 21 points, while Pugliese scored 16 in the game. Eli Harris added 12 off the bench.
 
Beatty led the Nor'easters with 24 points along with three rebounds. DeBrito contributed with 17 points and three rebounds. Hadnot and Jordan Bagshaw (Cumberland, Maine) each scored 11 in reserve roles.
 
Roger Williams (15-11) will head to #2 Gordon in the CCC Semifinals this Thursday. UNE ends the year at 7-19.