Bristol, RI-- Endicott College closed the game with a 12-0 run to break a 49-49 tie and pick up a 61-49 win over the Roger Williams men's basketball team, and clinching the school's third straight regular season title. Endicott finishes the season 15-1 in the league, a school record and earns the top seed for the post season tournament.
After the two teams battled to a 25-25 tie at the break, the Hawks jumped out to a 38-34 lead on a short jumper by senior Brian Scharrenweber (Salisbury, MA), giving them their largest cushion of the half. However, the Gulls retook the lead on a three pointer from Josh Oxton (Center Harbor, NH) and a pair of free throws by Samuel Evans (Philadelphia, PA), and the teams traded baskets until the 6:07 mark, when Hawks forward Andrew Viana (Bristol, RI) tied the game at 49-49.
The Gulls were able to capitalize on a series of turnovers by the Hawks, with four players scoring in their 12-0 run that put the game away. Matt George (Dover, NH) led the visitors with 18 points, knocking down 3-of-5 triples in the game. Oxton finished the game with 14 points, and Nemanja Marinkovic (Belgrade, Serbia) added 10 points and 10 boards.
Viana finished as the high scorer for the Hawks, scoring 12 points and grabbing five boards. Chris Cormier (Trumbull, CT) added 10 points for the Hawks, and Dan Gumb (Patterson, NY) had nine points and eight rebounds. Sharrenweber, playing his last regular season game for the Hawks, scored seven points, grabbed a team-high nine boards and blocked three shots in the loss.
Endicott will now host Nichols College in the first round of the CCC playoffs Tuesday, February 22, at 8pm. Endicott beat Nichols 88-66 earlier in the season. Endicott, with the top seed, now is guaranteed a home game throught the playoffs.
RWU (13-11) 25 24 49
EC (19-5) 25 36 61
Story courtesy of Roger Williams Sports Information Dept.