BRISTOL, R.I. — The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team opened the new year with a dominant conference victory on Saturday afternoon, defeating Wentworth Institute of Technology, 83–60, inside the Campus Recreation Center. The Hawks controlled the game from start to finish, using efficient shooting, defensive pressure, and balanced scoring to improve to 8–5 overall and 4–0 in CNE play.
Roger Williams jumped out early and built a double-digit lead in the first half, knocking down 10 three-pointers before the break and taking a 45–34 advantage into halftime. The Hawks moved the ball well offensively and capitalized on turnovers, scoring repeatedly in transition to create separation. Wentworth attempted to keep pace from beyond the arc, but RWU's consistent execution prevented any sustained runs.
The Hawks continued to apply pressure in the second half, outscoring Wentworth 38–26 and pushing the margin past 20 midway through the period. Roger Williams finished the afternoon with 15 made three-pointers and forced 21 turnovers, converting those into 26 points. RWU also held the Leopards to 32 percent shooting in the second half, limiting second-chance opportunities and fast-break looks.
Ryan Hammarlund (Southington, Conn.) led the Hawks with 21 points, shooting 5-of-6 from three-point range, while Ryan Higgins (Boston, Mass.) added 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Finn Miller (Stamford, Conn.) recorded a strong all-around performance with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Ashton Leclerc (Gorham, Maine) chipped in 12 points, four assists, and three steals, while Philip Sughrue (Winchester,, Mass.) anchored the interior with 11 rebounds and a game-high eight assists.
Wentworth was paced by Dylan Olson with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Russell Dolabany added 11 points. Despite solid individual efforts, the Leopards struggled to match RWU's depth and tempo over 40 minutes.
Roger Williams' balanced offensive attack and defensive discipline proved decisive as they protected home court and remained unbeaten in conference. The Hawk's next game will be away on Tuesday, against Curry, at 7:30 PM.
