Arsenault's three-pointer at the buzzer gives Panthers an LEC win

            PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior Curtis Arsenault (Berlin, N.H.) hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to lift Plymouth State University past Rhode Island College, 71-70, in the Little East Conference (LEC) men's basketball opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at The Murray Center.

            RIC took a 70-68 lead when sophomore Benjamin Vezele (Providence, R.I.) hit a tough layup with 2.7 seconds remaining.  After a loose ball, Plymouth State was able to run an inbounds play at half court.  Arsenault caught the inbounds pass and nailed the game-winner over two Anchormen defenders.

            PSU improves to 4-2 (1-0 LEC), while Rhode Island drops to 3-4 (0-1 LEC).

THE BASICS

  The Murray Center, Providence, R.I. – Sat., Dec. 3, 2016

  Plymouth State 71, Rhode Island 70

  Records:

  Plymouth State 4-2 (1-0 LEC); Rhode Island 3-4 (0-1 LEC)

PSU LEADERS

  * Freshman Jaylen Leroy (Manchester, N.H.) … game-high 26 points (8-of-11) including six  three-pointers

  * Senior Jack Preston (Nashua, N.H.) … 22 points, game-high 10 rebounds

  * Junior Brian Boulay (Keene, N.H.) … nine points, five assists, three rebounds, three steals

  * Arsenault … seven points

BY THE NUMBERS

  * Plymouth State shot 47.4% (27-of-57) from the field, while the Anchormen were 22-of-45 (48.9%).

  * The Panthers connected on 7-of-14 from long range, with Leroy hitting 6-of-9.  RIC was 8-of-22 from downtown.

  * Rhode Island attempted 10 more free throws than PSU (25 to 15), with Vezele finishing a perfect 12-of-12 from the line.  Plymouth State finished 10-of-15, while RIC was 18-of-25.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half:

  * RIC and PSU traded baskets early with the score tied, 9-9, after five minutes of action.

  * The Panthers used a 10-3 run, capped by a layup from Preston, to take a 19-12 advantage with 10:24 left in the first half.

  * PSU went up by eight points (25-17) after a layup by Boulay with 7:28 remaining.

  * The Anchormen stormed back, using a 14-6 run to knot the score at 31-31 at halftime.

Second Half:

  * The Anchormen came out strong after the break, hitting three-pointers on its first three offensive possessions to pull ahead 40-33 just 1:11 into the half.

  * Trailing 54-43, the Panthers used an 11-0 run to tie the game at 54-54 with 9:02 left to play.  Leroy sparked the run with a pair of three-pointers and Preston added the other six points.

  * PSU took its first lead of the second half with a traditional three-point play by Boulay with 5:09 left to put the Panthers up 57-56.

  * The game was tied six more times, the final time coming with Preston's layup made the score 68-68 with 31 seconds to go.

NEXT UP

  * Plymouth State returns home for its final three games before the end of the semester.  The Panthers host Framingham State on Tues., Dec. 6 at 7:00 p.m.

  * Rhode Island is also back in action on Tuesday, as the Anchormen travel to Johnson & Wales for a 7:00 p.m. game.

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