Rhode Island uses OT to outlast La Salle
Jeff Dowtin scored 25 points, including four key free throws in the final seconds, as No. 18 Rhode Island clinched a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season title with a hard-fought 95-93 overtime victory at La Salle Tuesday night.
Five Rams scored in double figures. Stanford Robinson had 20 points, Jared Terrell had 14, E.C. Matthews had 13 and Fatts Russell had 10.
La Salle was led by B.J. Johnson, who posted a career-high 23 rebounds to go with 29 points.
Rhode Island never trailed in the second half and led 8178 with three seconds left. The Rams purposely fouled Pookie Powell, who made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second. Tony Washington snared the long rebound and made the putback to tie the game at 81 at the end of regulation.
Cyril Langevine scored four straight points to give the Rams a 91-87 lead with 2:20 left in OT. Trailing 9190, La Salle had two chances to take its first lead since the first half, but couldn’t convert.
Dowtin hit two free throws to give La Salle a 3-point lead, and the Rams again intentionally fouled Powell, this time with 3.2 seconds left. Powell again made the first — and accidentally made the second. After Dowtin made two more, the Explorers tried the same tactic yet again but were called for a lane violation.
Saul Phiri added 16 points, and Miles Brookins scored 13 for La Salle (11-17, 5-10).
In other men’s action: WILLIAMSON 68, DCCC 60 » It was only fitting that a senior showed the way on Senior Night for the Mechanics.
Ryan Carlino scored 23 points, on 10-for-15 shooting, and grabbed six rebounds in the final game of his career. Junior Kyree Freeman returned after missing four games with a shoulder injury and had 17 points and four assists. Fellow junior Gus Pagan (Interboro) added nine points and four assists.
Women’s Basketball
Sarah Veilleux’s 3-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark, and Saint Joseph’s saw its four-game winning streak come to an end in a 49-46 loss to George Washington.
Amanda Fioravanti led the Hawks (14-13, 9-6) with 11 points six rebounds and six assists. Veilleiux added 10 points, while Alyssa Monaghan (Bonner & Prendergast All-Delco) pitched in with seven points.