Knights Victorious in Home Opener 76-55 over BFIT!

11.09.18

Warwick, R.I. – November 9, 2018: The CCRI Knights men's basketball team held their first home game of the 2018-19 season on Thursday evening. Facing them, were the Chargers of Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology. Beginning as a back and forth game, opened up in the second half were the Knights would outscore the Chargers 28-41. The game finished in a 76-55 win for CCRI basketball. The win improves CCRI's season record to 2-0 overall and 2-0 in Region XXI play.

The pace of play was slow just after tipoff, with both teams feeling each other out. The Knights took an early, but small 6-3 lead four minutes into the game. That lead grew to seven points three minutes later. CCRI upped the defensive pressure, causing turnovers and capitalizing on those chances. The Knights jumped out to a 24-19 lead off of back to back 3s by Dylan Durante (Johnston, RI). BFIT would get as close as two points but never took the lead as the score going into halftime was 35-27.

At the half way mark, Peter Wilson (Providence, RI) and Dylan Durante led the Knights offense scoring eight points apiece. Wilson also contributed four rebounds and one assist. Durante chipped in with a rebound, one assist and one steal. JC Santos (East Providence, RI) scored seven points and added two rebounds, and one steal.

CCRI came out and picked up where they left off, pressing high defensively and counter attacking swiftly. CCRI grabbed a 43-27 lead just three minutes into the second half. The lead would continue to grow and eventually settle at 19 points at game's end. The Knights won the matchup with a final score of 76-55 in a dominant first home showing in which every single Knights contributed points.

JC Santos led all Knights in scoring, racking up 15 points with an additional four rebounds, and two steals. Peter Wilson totaled 14 points with nine rebounds, two assists and one block. Elijah Lewis (Bridgeport, CT) scored 11 points while recording seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Head Coach Rick Harris commented: "There was nice excitement in the air tonight for our season opener here at the Vincent A. Cullen Fieldhouse. We got a stiff challenge from Ben Franklin in the first half but our full court pressure late in that half I believe set the tone for the rest of the game. Our solid guard play led the way, and our young guys are learning that our defense sets the tempo and also fuels our offense. Nice to see all contribute including every active player hitting the scoring column".

The next challenge for the Knights will be Saturday, November 10 at 3 pm at home as they welcome the Cougars of Holyoke CC.

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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England's largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 15,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.