Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Roger Williams University men's basketball team fell to Springfield, 81-63, in the opener of the Hampton Inn West Springfield/Naismith Classic hosted by Springfield College.
 
Will MacDonald (York, Maine) scored 20 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, while pulling down eight rebounds with an assist and steal. Nate Lopes (Scituate, Mass.) also added 16 points with four rebounds and a steal, with Sughrue making a strong defensive impact with six rebounds, and six steals along with seven points.
 
In the first half, Springfield jumped out to a 2-0 lead with an early basket by the Pride's Curtiss Blische, before Mac Annus (Belmont, Mass.) got the Hawks on the board at the free throw line, the Hawks then took the lead off a jumper by Macdonald before Panayiotis Kapaniedes finished a layup on the other end to retake the lead.
 
The Hawks led by as many as nine after Lopes finished at the rim with 8:18 remaining.  The Pride then scored six straight points to cut the lead down, 21-18. MacDonald made a layup, before Zeke Blauner scored 12 straight points for the Pride as they took a seven-point lead after a Blische jumper. The Pride lead 36-27 at the half.
 
The Hawks jumped out to cut the lead down to four in the opening 3:26 of the second half, before Springfield extended the lead to 16 with 11:58 remaining in regulation. Trailing by 19 points with 9:28 remaining the Hawks were unable to comeback as the Pride held on to win for an 18-point victory.
 
Roger Williams will face UMaine–Farmington, Saturday, Dec. 31 on day two of the Hampton Inn West Springfield/Naismith Classic at 1 pm.  The Hawks will then play at the University of New England at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 3.