'PROVIDENCE, R.I.-Top-seeded Rhode Island College defeated second-seeded Keene State College, 87-75, in the Championship Game of the 2007 Little East Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. It is the first Little East title in the program's history and the Anchormen will be dancing into the NCAA Div. III Men's Basketball Tournament for the first time in 28 years (1979). Head Coach Bob Walsh's team is 24-3 overall, matching the school record for the most wins in the program's history, previously established by the 1968-69 edition.

The Anchormen will find out who their next opponent is when the 2007 NCAA Div. III Men's Basketball Tournament field is announced on Monday morning.

2006-07 has been a season of milestones for the Rhode Island College men's basketball program, which included capturing the Little East Conference Regular Season Championship for the second time in the past three years, and their first outright title. RIC shared the 2004-05 LEC Regular Season Championship with Western Connecticut. Prior to today's win, Rhode Island College had never advanced past the semifinals of the Little East Tournament.

Today's win over the Owls, avenges the two regular season losses to Keene State, the only blemishes on RIC's 12-2 regular season league slate.

Rhode Island College led by 10 points at the break, 41-31, and never looked back in the final stanza. Four Anchormen scored in double figures, led by sophomore guard Tirrell Hill's (Bronx, NY) game-high 19 points. Sophomore guard Bobby Bailey's (Fall River, MA) posted a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 10 boards.

Senior guard Kinsey Durgin (Greenwood, ME) was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Durgin, who registered 16 points, eight boards, four assists and two steals this afternoon, averaged 17.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest in the three-game tourney.

In addition to Durgin, Hill was named to the Little East Men's Basketball All-Tournament team. In three games, he averaged 18 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Senior forward Brian Stanko (Swansea, MA) chipped in with 13 points, five boards and two steals. A 96 percent free throw shooter on the season, he was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe late in the game. Sophomore forward Kaseem Johnson (New Haven, CT) had nine boards and six points.

Keene State falls to 23-5 on the season and will receive strong consideration for an NCAA Tournament At-Large bid.

Junior guard David Sontag (Mt. Vernon, NH) scored 15 points to reach the 1,000 career point milestone in the loss. Sophomore forward Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, VT) was named to the 2007 Little East Conference Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team. He had 16 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort.

In addition, senior guard Tony Barros (Dorchester, MA) from UMass Boston and senior forward Stephane Abelard (Brockton, MA) were named to the 2007 Little East Conference Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team.

2007 Little East Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Awards

Most Outstanding Player:

Kinsey Durgin, Rhode Island College

All-Tournament Team:

Kinsey Durgin, Rhode Island College

Tirrell Hill, Rhode Island College

Tyler Kathan, Keene State

Tony Barros, UMass Boston

Stephane Abelard, UMass Dartmouth