BOSTON, Mass. – The Roger Williams University men's basketball team held on late to defeat Wentworth on Thursday evening in Tansey Gymnasium, 82-81, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) contest.
 
The Hawks were led by Mac Annus (Belmont, Mass.) who hit nine shots, including a pair of threes for 26 points.  Annus also pulled down five rebounds, dishing out six assists. John Ah Kao (Dumont, N.J.) also tallied 20 points, going 8-13 from the field with four rebounds, and a pair of assists.  Sean Gogolin (Winchester, Mass.) also scored in double figures, with 11 points on the day, with six boards, three assists, a block and a steal.
 
Tyler Stewart had a game-high 28 points for the Leopards, with seven rebounds, three blocks, and a steal as well as an assist. Sam Goy had 16 points, with eight rebounds, and Jack Connell added 14 points, with three rebounds, and eight assists.
 
Wentworth held the edge with 17 points off the bench, to Roger Williams 11. The Leopards also led 15-7 in fast break points, as well as 48-8 in points in the paint.
 
After playing the opening 10:11 to a 17-17 tie after Russell Dolabany knocked down a three pointer in transition, Roger Williams took the advantage with Annus completing a three-point play at the line after a foul by Goy.
 
Not much separation was had between the two teams trading the lead throughout the half with Roger Williams taking the lead after Ah Kao knocked down a pair of free throws at the line and then finished on a layup the Hawks' next trip down the floor to take a four-point lead. A three by Jack Connell in the final minute wrapped up scoring for the half, with Roger Williams taking a 33-32 advantage in the opening 20 minutes.
 
In the second half, Wentworth held the largest lead of the game, leading by nine, 57-48, with 10:44 remaining in the second half. The Hawks leveled the score at 62-62, before Wentworth stuck with a pair of free throws to go up by two.
 
Both teams were tied at 64 before Roger Williams retook the lead, leading by six with 1:07 remaining.
 
The Leopards cut the lead down to two before, Ty Higgins (New Marlborough, Mass.) knocked one of his two shots at the free throw line, to take an 82-79 lead. The Leopards then scored off a missed three by Jack Connell, that Stewart then tipped in with 1 second remaining to cut the lead down to one. After a turnover by Roger Williams, the Leopards had an opportunity off the inbounds, putting the ball through the hoop on the inbound pass, causing a turnover, and giving Roger Williams the ball, as the Hawks held onto the win.
 
Roger Williams (5-7, 4-1 CCC) will host Gordon on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2:00 pm in the Campus Rec Center, before hosting Hartford on Tuesday, Jan. 9 in their first matchup between the two programs.