Rhode Island College shuts down Salve Regina, 66-42

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University men's basketball ran into an undefeated team that plays tremendous defense. The Seahawks entered tonight's game averaging 75.6 points per game (in five contests) but were held to a near program low as Rhode Island College (7-0) defeated Salve Regina, 66-42, in a non-league meeting at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

The Anchormen enjoyed a balanced scoring attack (10 different scorers), led by three in double figures. Sophomore forward Jacob Page (Brookline, Mass.) had two layups in the opening three minutes as RIC started on a 6-0 run.

Salve Regina (4-2) got on the board when its leading scorer for the season, junior guard Isiah Pringle (Queens, N.Y.), made two of three free throws after being fouled on his field goal attempt behind the arc. Pringle was held without a field goal and finished with just those two points.

After trailing 10-2 at the 14:54 mark in the first, Salve Regina went on a 12-5 run to close within one point. Senior William Smiley (Saunderstown, R.I.) and junior Patrick Dinneen (Medfield, Mass.) both provided old-fashioned three-point plays after getting fouled on successful layups.

Junior guard Tom DeCiantis (North Kingstown, R.I.) hit a 3-pointer at 10:46 to start an 18-4 run for the unbeaten visitors. Salve Regina junior Joshua Hohlfelder (Noank, Conn.) accounted for the only two Seahawk baskets during that seven-minute span.

Hohlfelder's jumper with 2:06 left in the first finished the scoring before intermission with Rhode Island College leading by 13 points, 35-22.

Salve Regina started the second half on a 5-2 run (all five points on free throws) before RIC blanked the Seahawks over the next four minutes. Six different Anchormen accounted for their next 13 points with junior Michael Palumbo (Providence, R.I.) getting the run started with a 3-pointer.

Rhode Island College led 50-27 at 12:02 when Salve Regina managed a 10-5 run over the next four minutes. Junior forward Jeff Bielefeld (Littleton, Mass.) had a two-point jumper just inside the arc and later drove the lane for a layup. The Anchormen finished the game outscoring the Seahawks, 11-5, in the last five and a half minutes.

Palumbo and sophomore Chris Burton (New Rochelle, N.Y.) both finished with 11 points while Tahrike Carter (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied 10 points for RIC. Dinneen and Smiley both finished with nine points for Salve Regina which had averaged 8.6 3-pointers made per game entering tonight, going 0-for-11 against the Anchormen. The last time Salve Regina came up empty behind the arc was an 0-for-9 performance against Colby-Sawyer College (Jan. 25, 2003).

The 42 points scored represents the second lowest total ever for the Seahawks. Against Amherst College on January 24, 2004, Salve Regina lost by 41 points (81-40) and at Colby-Sawyer five years earlier (Jan. 23, 1999), the Seahawks lost by 50 (92-42).

Rhode Island College plays at WPI on Thursday before hosting Little East Conference rival Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday. Salve Regina has a home date with Wheaton College on Thursday (7:30 p.m.).