BSC Men's Basketball Comes Up Short Against RIC

Box Score 

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Despite a 25-point performance by senior guard Tom Cuddihy (Scituate, MA), the Bridgewater State College men's basketball dropped a 73-71 decision to Rhode Island College this evening from the Tinsley Center.

With the loss, the Bears fall to 1-2 on the season while the Anchormen remain undefeated with a 3-0 record.

Trailing 67-59 with 3 ½ minutes remaining in the game, the Bears closed the gap to three points, 67-64, on a three-point bucket by freshman guard Nicholas Motta (Fairhaven, MA) and a running jumper by freshman guard Judah Jackson (Everett, MA).  Four RIC free throws sandwiched a driving lay-up by BSC freshman guard Cesar Oliveira (Taunton, MA) as the Anchormen led, 71-66, with a minute remaining. 

Jackson then hit a driving lay-up which was answered by a pair of free throws by Rhode Island junior guard Tirrell Hill (Bronx, NY) with 21.7 seconds left.  Cuddihy brought the home crowd to its feet as he buried a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 73-71 with 13.3 seconds showing on the scoreboard.  The Anchormen gave the Bears a chance by missing a pair of free throws with 8.7 seconds on the clock, but Cuddihy's deep three at the buzzer hit the front of the rim.

Cuddihy finished 8 of 18 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the free throw line.  He also pulled down 5 rebounds and dished out 3 assists.

Freshman guard Anthony Fortes (East Providence, RI) paced the Anchormen with 15 points on 5 of 6 shooting.  Hill added 12 points while junior forward Kaseem Johnson (New Haven, CT) posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

RIC held a 49-38 rebounding advantage, with 21 of those 49 rebounds coming off the offensive glass.  RIC turned the ball over 23 times however and shot just 38% (26-for-68) from the floor.

Bridgewater struggled from the charity stripe in the second half hitting on just 11 of 18 free throw attempts. The Bears also finished 4 of 16 from three-point range and turned the ball over 17 times.

Bridgewater State will be back in action on Tuesday, November 27^th as the Bears travel to UMass-Dartmouth for a 7 o'clock game with the Corsairs. RIC travels to Fitchburg State next Tuesday to take on the Falcons also at 7.