PROVIDENCE, R.I. (February 1, 2025)—First-year guard Raphel Laurent (Peabody, Mass.) delivered a standout performance, scoring 25 points and contributing 13 free throws, one block, and two steals to lead UMass Boston (10-9, 5-6 Little East Conference) to an 84-79 victory over the LEC second-seeded Rhode Island College (13-7, 8-3 LEC), handing them their third conference loss of the season.

Four Beacons scored in double digits, including senior captain Emanuel Zayas (Hollywood, Fla.) with 18 points, Xavier McKenzie (Lowell, Mass.) with 17, and graduate Mark Barrett (Brookline, Mass.) with 13. UMass Boston needed every bit of the offensive firepower, as the Anchormen remained a constant threat throughout the game.

How it Happened:

• McKenzie opened the scoring with a three-pointer, followed by Zayas' triple at the 13:13 mark to narrow the R.I.C. lead to a single point. Laurent then stole the spotlight, driving the Beacons ahead with a fastbreak dunk and another steal, his second of the game, leading to back-to-back dunks.
• The Beacons took a 37-31 lead into halftime, with Laurent contributing 10 of his 25 points.
• The second half was a back-and-forth battle. After R.I.C. cut the lead to one, Barrett and Zayas combined for eight unanswered points to maintain the advantage. The teams traded leads, but Laurent's free throws and McKenzie's back-to-back threes gave UMass Boston a crucial cushion in the closing moments. 
• In the final minutes, Laurent scored key points, and Barrett's offensive rebound and putback extended the Beacons' lead. UMass Boston sealed the win with a strong free-throw performance down the stretch, converting 6 of 8 attempts in the final minute.

By the Box:

• Laurent nearly matched his career-high with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in a dominant all-around effort.
• Zayas efficiently scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, and tied Laurent with 4 assists.
• McKenzie contributed 17 points, including 3 three-pointers, in his eighth game with 15+ points this season.
• Barrett added 13 points, including 2 three-pointers, along with 1 block and 2 steals, playing a key role on both ends of the floor.
• Davon Sanders (Mansfield, Mass.) grabbed 8 rebounds, 5 of them offensive, and chipped in 6 points and 2 assists.

Team Stats:

• UMass Boston shot a blistering 58.8% (10-17) from three-point range.
• The Beacons dominated in several key categories: points off turnovers (19-4), points in the paint (26-18), and fastbreak points (13-11).

With five games remaining in the regular season, UMass Boston is tied for fourth place in the LEC with their next opponent, the University of Southern Maine Huskies (9-11, 5-6 LEC), as the Beacons play host on Wednesday, February 5, at 7:00 p.m. in a critical matchup for postseason positioning from the Clark Gymnasium.

-- For The Times --