PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior Kevin Henry (Stratham, N.H.) nabbed his first double-double of the season, but Rhode Island College narrowly held off Plymouth State University, 74-72, in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's basketball showdown at The Murray Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
The game was competitive from the start with both teams trading baskets, but the Anchormen closed out the first half with a 37-31 advantage.
 
Henry spearheaded the Panthers' comeback with a huge steal and driving layup, but RIC did not let off the gas, pushing the lead to ten with just over five minutes left.
 
Heading down the final minutes, PSU rallied to tie the score at 69-69. The teams traded three-pointers, with Henry retying the game at 72-apiece, but the hosts got to the rim in the final seconds and PSU was unable to hit on a potential buzzer-beater to account for the final score.
 
Plymouth State dips to 7-5 (1-3 LEC), while Rhode Island College jumps to 9-4 and stays unbeaten (5-0) in conference play.
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 72, RIC 74
  • Plymouth State (7-5, 1-3 LEC)
  • RIC (9-4, 5-0 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Plymouth State
  • Kevin Henry (27 pts, 10-24 fg, 2-4 3pt, 13 reb)
  • Elijah Swanson (10 pts, 6 reb, 2 stl)
  • Ivan Yen (10 pts, 3-4 3pt, 3 reb, 2 stl)

How it Happened:

• It was a back-and-forth battle from the get-go, with junior Torran Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) leading the charge with a three-pointer and jumper as the score was deadlocked at 8-8 through five minutes.
• RIC pulled ahead, but sophomore Eli Pockette (Rutland, Vt.) fired a few shots to keep the Panthers in reach, while Henry also hit from deep and added a pair of free throws.
• The Anchormen opened the gates as an 8-0 run gave them a 31-20 lead with less than four minutes in the first half.
• The Panthers got back to within six following a triple from sophomore Ivan Yen (Concord, N.H.) and another Pockette jumper to head into halftime trailing 37-31.
• PSU took back the lead to start the second half.
• The teams began to trade baskets before RIC moved back in front by double-digits, 63-53, with 5:15 left on the clock.
• Another triple from Yen sliced into the deficit and Henry and senior Elijah Swanson (Meredith, N.H.) converted free throws to make it a four-point game.
• Yen and Bosworth hit from distance to knot the game at 69-69, but the hosts used a free throw and layup to go back up by three with 1:02 remaining.
• Henry fired from long range to even things at 72-72, but with five seconds left the Anchormen got a bucket to fall.
• Following a PSU timeout, the Panthers attempted a shot from long distance at the buzzer, but came up empty to account for the final score.

By the Numbers:

• Plymouth State scored 17 points off turnovers.
• PSU hit 16-of-22 from the charity stripe.
• Henry recorded his first double-double of the year, finishing with 27 points and 13 boards on 10-of-24 shooting.
• RIC holds a narrow 45-42 advantage in the all-time series.

Up Next:

• The Panthers return home to Foley Gymnasium for an LEC matchup with VTSU Castleton on Tuesday (Jan. 14) with tipoff set for 7:00 p.m.

 
 
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