Seahawks advance with Smiley's double-double

NEWPORT, R.I. – Junior William Smiley (Saunderstown, R.I.) recorded his second double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds to help the top-seeded Salve Regina University men's basketball team to a 58-47 victory over eighth seed Western New England University during the quarterfinal round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship tournament on Tuesday night at the Rodgers Recreation Center. The Seahawks, who are now 18-8 on the season, will advance to host the number four seed Nichols College on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Smiley shot an efficient 6-of-9 from the floor, including 1-for-1 from downtown, adding three steals and a block. CCC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Birrell (Hope, R.I.) led all players with 20 points and four assists to go along with six rebounds in the win, while sophomore Joshua Hohlfelder (Noank, Conn.) barely missed a double-double, recording nine points and nine boards on the night.

The Golden Bears received a team-high 14 points from junior Damon Alston (New Britain, Conn.) while sophomore Daniel Minto (West Hempstead, N.Y.) led all players with 12 rebounds and four blocks in the loss. Senior Andrew Shaw (New York, N.Y.) added 12 points, including a pair of treys, while sophomore Dennis Rinaldi (Harrison, N.Y.) chipped-in with 11 points and eight boards for the visitors.

The Seahawks grabbed an early 4-0 lead on a jumper by Smiley and a layup by Birrell, before the Golden Bears came back to tie the game at 6-6, getting four early points from Alston.

With the score knotted at 8-all, the Seahawks erupted for a 15-2 run, including a string of seven consecutive points by Birrell to build a 23-10 advantage midway through the opening half.

The Salve Regina lead swelled to as many as 18 before the Seahawks eventually went into the break holding a 40-25 advantage.

Western New England came out strong in the second half, immediately cutting into the Salve Regina lead with a pair of Alston layups to get back within 11 at 40-29 with 17:55 left in the period.

From that point forward, the Seahawks and Golden Bears traded blows, as neither team was able to score consecutive baskets the rest of the way.

With just seven minutes remaining, Western New England held possession trailing just 50-42. However, a costly turnover led to a Hohlfelder layup for the Seahawks, and the Golden Bears were never able to get back within less than nine points the rest of the way, as Salve Regina held on for the 58-47 victory.

Salve Regina will host a CCC Basketball Championship double-header on Thursday, with the men hosting Nichols at 6 p.m., and the women welcoming Western New England at 8 p.m.