Bristol, R.I. - The Curry College men's basketball team came up short in an away game versus conference opponent Roger Williams by a final score of 88-53. The loss drops the Colonels' overall record to 1-13 while they continue to search for their first conference win of the year at 0-5. The Hawks sit at 8-7 on the year after the victory, climbing to 5-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).
The Colonels won the opening tip, but a missed three-pointer by junior Jared Thorpe-Johnson (Dorchester, Mass.) quickly gave the ball to the Hawks. After a foul was called on guard RJ Hadfield (Warwick, R.I.) behind the arc, the hosts hit all three free throws to start an 8-0 run, building their lead thanks to four straight missed field goals by the Colonels to start the game, before a three by junior guard Dashawn Williams (New Haven, Conn.) would end the streak. Undeterred by another Curry three, this one from Thorpe-Johnson, the Hawks kept their guests at arm's length, building a 19-6 lead just 7:13 into the contest, thanks in part to a five point run which held the Colonels scoreless for nearly three and a half minutes. Curry began the game relying heavily on the three ball which refused to fall, scoring just nine points on three baskets over the first nine minutes of the contest, before a converted free throw by senior Alex Stein (Mount Olive, N.J.) broke double-digits and cut the Hawks' deficit to nine at 19-10. After a miss by the hosts' Eli Harris (Falmouth, Mass.), Stein drove down the floor and drilled a three to get his team within six, but the Hawks swiftly returned their lead to double digits at 27-13 after points on their next three possessions. Taking shots primarily from the perimeter, the Colonels scored 15 of their 20 first half points by way of the three. While Curry resided behind the arc, Roger Williams took control down low, putting in 16 points from inside the arc on 67% shooting in the first frame, which aided them in taking a 47-20 lead to the half.
Curry got the ball to resume play out of the break and made it count on their first possession thanks to a converted and-1 by Thorpe-Johnson. However, despite the early basket by the Colonels, the Hawks picked up right where they left off, as they saw their lead grow to 37 after a three from Austin Coene (Tyngsboro, Mass.) with 16:19 left in regulation made the score 60-23, thanks to some notable ball movement. The remainder of the half would see much of the same, though even in defeat, the Colonels are able to find signs of growth. Thorpe-Johnson led the team with 19 points, already the 10th time this season he has registered a double digit point total. Junior forward Dwayne Booth (Jamaica, N.Y.) grabbed seven boards for the visitors, five of them on the offensive side of the floor, while junior Kieran Carroll (Greenwich, Conn.) dished out a pair of assists to top the team. Additionally, coming off of a month of December which saw Curry surrender over 16 second chance points per game and nearly 15 offensive rebounds per game, the Colonels improved upon both of those metrics in this one, allowing just 11 offensive boards and 11 second chance points.
Roger Williams' offensive efforts were led by Coene, who posted team highs in points (18) and assists (6). Sophomore Drew Hart (Cheshire, Conn.) registered his first collegiate double-double thanks to 11 points and 10 rebounds, the latter of which led all players in the match-up.
Curry will play next on Thursday, January 10th at 7:30 P.M. at home against the University of New England, another CCC opponent. Roger Williams will also continue their CCC schedule, as they will travel to face Gordon on Saturday, January 12th at 3:00 P.M.
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