PROVIDENCE, RI - UMass Boston Men's Basketball was playing from behind for most of the afternoon on Saturday. The Beacons stormed back to tie the game in the second half but it was the hosting Rhode Island College Anchormen who finished strong, handing the visitors a 77-67 loss.
 
THE BASICS
 
UMass Boston 67, Rhode Island College 77
 
UMass Boston (15-8, 8-6 LEC)
Rhode Island College (7-15, 5-9 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
On the game's opening possession, junior guard Bobby Joy knocked down a mid-range jumper to give the Beacons a quick lead. The two teams traded baskets early in the first half. With 13:36 left to play, a Rhode Island College layup gave the Anchormen a lead which they did not surrender for the rest of the game.
 
The Beacons did not go away easily, however, as they would enter the locker room for halftime trailing by just six, 38-32.
 
With just over 10 minutes left to play in the second half, a layup by senior forward Malik Lorquet cut the deficit to 58-56. A pair of free throws from senior guard Mariano Olivier-Rodriguez tied the game at 58. 
 
Lorquet continued to lead the way on offense and defense, racking up 18 points, 16 rebounds, four blocks, and three steals in the contest. 
 
With just under 7:30 to play in the game, the Beacons once again tied the game, this time at 60, courtesy of a jump shot from freshman guard Xavier McKenzie
 
McKenzie, who has been coming off the bench following a four-game absence in January, finished the game with 14 points to go with four rebounds and three steals.
 
That tying bucket would be the end of the UMass Boston comeback attempt. The Anchormen closed out the Beacons on a 17-7 run to win by a final score of 77-67.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• With two regular season games left in his career, Malik Lorquet needs 37 points to become the 16th member of the program's 1,000 Point Club
• Xavier McKenzie has scored double digit points in 16 of the 19 games he has played this season, including his last six
• Malik Lorquet's 19th double-double moves him into a tie with Emerson's Jarred Houston for the second most in NCAA DIII this season

 
WHO'S NEXT
 
With Southern Maine's loss on Saturday, the two teams have identical conference records heading into the matchup and trail Eastern Connecticut State University by half a game. The two teams will face off at Clark Athletic Center Gym on Wednesday night with the opportunity to secure sole possession of third place in the LEC standings. The team will celebrate Senior Night before the 7:30 PM tip-off. During their first matchup on the road, the Beacons defeated the Huskies by a final score of 66-60.