Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State men's basketball team dropped an 81-77 decision to the Anchormen of Rhode Island College in non-conference action tonight at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 77, Rhode Island College 81
Records: Fitchburg State (1-4) | RIC (3-0)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State took an 6-2 edge on back-to-back buckets from junior Darian Norwood (San Diego, Calif.) and sophomore Kerns Monvilus (Coral Springs, Fla.) before Rhode Island College countered with a lay-in from Keyshaun Jacobs (Lynn, Mass.) to take a 19-15 advantage.

The Falcons would knot it at 23-23 with a Quincy Taylor (Boston, Mass.) basket and break the stalemate when newcomer Nathaniel Semedo (Bridgewater, Mass.) drained a three-pointer. Tied at 28-all with seven minutes to play the Anchormen would close out the frame with a 14-5 run, including five points from Shion Darby (Peekskill, NY), to take a 42-33 lead into intermission.

Following intermission, the Falcons chipped away at the lead putting together a 8-0 run highlighted by a trey from Monvilus and four points from Norwood to cut the deficit to 46-45 with 15 minutes remaining.

RIC answered with eight straight points from Darby to extend the lead to 54-45. After a jumper from Monvilus tied the game (56-56) the Green and Gold took their first lead of the second half on a layup from Norwood.

The Falcons extended the lead (71-65) with six straight points capped by a beyond-the-arc bucket from senior Dominik Williams (Newark, NJ). However, the Anchormen wouldn't go away and trailed 77-76 with twenty-three seconds left on the clock. After a pair of missed free-throws from the Falcons, Jacobs drained a three-pointer for the game-winner.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were paced by Quincy Taylor with a team-best 21 points and game-high 16 boards for the double-double
• Monvilus chipped in with 19 points, nine caroms, five assists for Fitchburg State
• Darby led the way for the Anchormen with a game-leading 42 points
• Jacobs added 15 points, four caroms and six assists for Rhode Island College
• Fitchburg State shot 29-for-73 (39.7%) from the field and (5-of-26) 19.2% from three-point range
• Rhode Island College finished 32-of-75 (42.7%) overall and (5-for-24) 20.8% for beyond the arc
• Falcons held a 55-43 margin on the glass

Up Next

Falcons will host Dean College on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference tilt, starting at 12:00 PM.