Roger Williams gets non-conference win over Salve Regina

BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team overcame a poor shooting effort in the first half to get back on the winning track, defeating in-state rival Salve Regina University 72-65 Tuesday evening in a non-conference matchup.

The Hawks, who came into the game shooting .446 from the field, went 8-for-38 in the first period, including starting off hitting only three of their first 27 shots. Despite the lackluster shooting performance, Roger Williams still jumped out to a 7-0 lead, holding the Seahawks scoreless over the opening four minutes with an early three-pointer and layup by TRavis O'Dell (Brunswick, Maine) and free throws by Taylor Petruccelli (Stratford, Conn.)

After Andrew Knight (Danvers, Mass.) put Salve Regina on the board with a free throw, the cold shooting for RWU continued, as the Hawks would hit only one of their next 19 shots, leading to a 20-3 run for the Seahawks over the next ten minutes. A layup by Dan Royce (Mahwah, N.J.) would give Salve Regina its largest lead at that point, ahead 21-10 with 6:03 to play in the half. The Hawk offense began to pick up from there, closing the half with a 17-6 run of their own to knot the game at 27 apiece going into the break.

Ryan Birrell (Hope, R.I.) began the period with a layup to put Salve Regina up by a basket, but a Corey Fava (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) jumper and Petruccelli layup helped Roger Williams regain the lead, making it 31-29 less than 1:30 in the half. The Hawks would not trail until the 12:55 mark, when Trey Scales (Boston, Mass.) knocked down a three-pointer to give Salve Regina a 42-41 advantage.

The Seahawks maintained its lead into the final five minutes until a pair of free throws by O'Dell tied the game at 60 with 3:50 to play, setting up a frantic pace over the next two minutes that saw two ties and two lead changes.

With Roger Williams leading 68-65 and holding possession of the ball, the Hawks ran down the time to get a look at the basket late in the shot clock, but a crucial traveling violation by Fava as he drove into the paint with 40 seconds remaining gave the Seahawks an opportunity to tie the game. Yet the turnover bug would strike Salve Regina as well, as Jabreche Boyd (West Haven, Conn.) was called for steps with 26 ticks remaining. Fava knocked down a pair of free throws after being fouled on the ensuing possession to secure the win for Roger Williams.

Fava finished with ten points and 11 assists in the game for a double-double, while O'Dell added a team-high 13 points and ten rebounds for a double-double of his own. Gary Madison (Waterbury, Conn.) also chipped in with 13 points in the game.

For the Seahawks, Royce went for 16 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks in the game, while teammate Birrell scored 18 to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

Roger Williams (5-1) is back in action Thursday in another non-conference tilt, hosting Wheaton at 7:00 p.m., while Salve Regina (0-5) hosts Johnson & Wales also on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Courtesy of Roger Williams sports information