BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University earned its first Commonwealth Coast Conference victory of the New Year with an 85-76 win over the University of New England Tuesday evening.
 
Hawk Highlights
Drew Hart (Cheshire, Conn.): 30 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block
Rich Pugliese (Middlebury, Conn.): 21 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
JJ Pfohl (Trumbull, Conn.): 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
Eli Harris (Falmouth, Mass.): 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
 
For The Opponents
Avery DeBrito (New Bedford, Mass.): 22 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists
Siddiq Canty (Dallas, Texas): 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
Alex Kravchuk (Mansfield, Conn.): 17 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists
Jackson McCoy (East Montpelier, Vt.): 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal
 
How It Happened
Avery DeBrito scored the first eight points for UNE but Roger Williams still led by two. Then with the score tied at ten, the Hawks rolled off eight straight points as part of a 14-2 run to take a 12-point lead with 14:05 left in the first. The Nor'Easters pulled within six but a three-pointer by JJ Pfohl put the Hawks back up by double digits.
 
Another three by Pfohl with 4:05 left gave RWU its biggest lead to that point, a 15-point advantage (35-20). Roger Williams would take that 15-point lead into halftime (41-26).
 
A Drew Hart three put the Hawks up by 18 early in the half. Yet the Nor'Easters would not go away. Siddiq Canty and Alex Kravchuk were responsible for 31 of UNE's 45 points over the first 17 minutes of the second half. They helped bring UNE to within one with just over three minutes left to play (71-72).
 
However, that would be as close as the Nor'Easters would get, as the Hawks built the lead back up to five with a minute left. UNE would be held to only three point in the final two minutes of the game as the Hawks came away with the win.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams (10-3, 2-2 CCC): Thursday, January 9 at Nichols @ 7:30pm
University of New England (6-6, 1-3 CCC): Thursday, January 9 at Curry @ 7:30pm