BOSTON, Mass. (February 7, 2026) – UMass Boston men's basketball (14-8, 10-3 LEC) delivered a commanding performance in a pivotal Little East Conference rivalry, defeating Rhode Island College (11-11, 7-6 LEC) 82-69 on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium. The Beacons used a relentless defensive effort and balanced scoring attack to notch their 14th win of the season and improve to 14-8 overall.
In a contest marked by intense conference implications and long-standing rivalry, UMass Boston established control early and never relinquished its grip. The Beacons led for more than 32 minutes, heading into halftime with a 44-40 advantage. As Rhode Island College pressured late, UMass Boston responded with clutch plays and a decisive 6-0 run over the final two minutes to seal the result.
UMass Boston's defense set the tone from the opening tip, forcing 18 turnovers and generating 14 steals, highlighted by five from Raphel Laurent (Peabody, Mass.). Laurent also paced the Beacons offensively, pouring in 24 points on 9-of-20 shooting, and playing a near-complete game with 39 minutes on the court.
Davon Sanders (Mansfield, Mass.) ran the offense efficiently, tallying 18 points and a team-high five assists while adding five rebounds, two steals and a block. The sophomore guard was consistent at the free-throw line, hitting 9-of-11 attempts.
Forward Cameron Perkins (Danbury, Conn.) was a reliable third scoring option, finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, while Carson Meczywor (Adams, Mass.) came off the bench to provide a crucial spark – tallying 15 points and nine rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. Connor Walden (Marshfield, Mass.) anchored the paint with a game-high 12 rebounds, seven of them offensive, and added eight points.
UMass Boston's effort on the glass was a difference-maker, as the team secured 18 offensive rebounds and outscored Rhode Island College 14-6 in second-chance points. The Beacons also created a major advantage at the charity stripe, converting 24 free throws compared to just seven for the Anchormen.
Key moments included a driving layup from Meczywor with just over five minutes left that pushed the lead to double digits, a highlight dunk from Laurent to stop a late Rhode Island surge, and the decisive finishing run down the stretch. UMass Boston's defense and rebounding were instrumental in closing out the contest against their conference rival.
UP NEXT
UMass Boston will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 11, traveling to Vermont State University Castleton for another Little East Conference matchup. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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