KEENE, N.H. 2/16/13 – The Rhode Island College men's basketball team spoiled senior day at Spaulding Gym with a 86-64 Little East Conference victory over Keene State College on Saturday. 

Despite the loss, the Owls (14-9, 8-4 LEC) were able to hang on to the third seed in the upcoming LEC tournament, courtesy of UMass-Dartmouth's  82-74 upset win over  Southern Maine.  Keene State will host sixth seed Plymouth State University in a quarterfinal game on Tuesday (7 p.m.). "We backed our way into third," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert.  "We could've used a little luck during the game."

With its win, Rhode Island (22-3, 13-1 LEC) secures the top seed in the tournament.  The Anchormen will entertain eighth seed UMass-Dartmouth in a first-round game on Tuesday.

Keene State stayed with the Rhode Island College in the first half.  The intense, highly-competitive half featured four ties and six lead changes between the two teams.  RIC took advantage of a late mini 6-0 run take a 36-28 lead following a steal and free throw by junior Tom DeCiantis (North Kingstown, R.I.) with 34 seconds to go in the half.

In the Owls' next possession, junior Ryan Martin (Wayne, Maine) hit a couple of free throws to make it a 36-30 game at halftime.

The Anchormen put the game away with a 17-2 run to begin the second half.  Junior Nyheem Sanders (Pawtucket, R.I.) had six points in the uprising that concluded with a break-away lay-up by senior Steven Roberts (New Haven, Conn.) that put the Anchormen up 53-32 at the 14:36 mark.

"They made a run and punched us in the face and we didn't answer,' said Colbert.  We couldn't stop the bleeding."

  Sophomore Tre' Tipton (Stamford, Conn.) and senior Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.) attempted to get the Owls back in the game.  Tipton, who had nine points,  connected on a pair of three-pointers and Wright had a couple of dunks to make it 57-42 with 11:45 remaining. 

RIC came right back with a 6-0 spurt, going up 63-42 on a lay-up by Sanders.

A bench technical on KSC and a lay-up off the glass by Sanders pushed the Anchormen's lead to 70-49 with 6:15 to play. 

Martin led the Owls with 16 points, Wright had 14 points and senior Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) finished with 11 points. Wright and Mariano each had five rebounds.  Playing in their final home regular season games, Martin, Wright, Mariano and senior Eric Fazio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) were honored before the contest.  Fazio sat out the game with an injury.

Senior Tahrike Carter (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Sanders each finished with 18 points to lead the Anchormen.  Roberts had 12 points and sophomore Chris Burton (New Rochelle, N.Y.) finished with 11 points.  Carter pulled down a game high nine rebounds.

RIC controlled the boards 42-34, including 18 offensive rebounds.