Dartmouth, Mass.--Freshman guard Dante Law (Taunton, Mass.) scored 35 points to go along with 14 rebounds for a double-double effort as No. 4-seeded Rhode Island College fell at No. 1-seeded UMass-Dartmouth, 93-89, in the semifinal round of the Little East Conference Men's Basketball Championship played at Tripp Athletic Center on Monday evening.
 
THE BASICS
UMass-Dartmouth 93, Rhode Island College 89
UMass-Dartmouth (7-2)
Rhode Island College (1-6)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The game started with both offenses clicking and trading baskets. The Corsairs were able to build a nine-point, 24-15, lead during the first 10 minutes.
 
• The Anchormen found themselves down by 12 points, 31-19, with just under eight minutes left before the halftime break.
 
• A sophomore guard Shion Darby (Peekskill, N.Y.) layup with 2:32 left on the clock cut the hosts lead to just three-points, 39-36.
 
• Another Darby jumper as the time expired before the halftime intermission created a three-point deficit once again, 43-40.
 
• A pair of Law treys put the Anchormen down one, 47-46, in the opening two minutes of the second half.
 
• The Anchormen gained the lead on a pair of Darby free throws, 50-49, with 17:12 remaining in regulation.
 
• The Corsairs regained the lead on a senior guard Jake Ashworth (Fairhaven, Mass.) three-ball with 16:07 to play.
 
• Both teams continued to make shots with ease, but the hosts were able to maintain and build their lead up to 11, 70-59, with 10:34 left on the clock.
 
• RIC trailed by as many as 14, 79-65, with 8:20 to go in the game.
 
• Law came up big for the Anchormen down the stretch as he scored 14 of the club's final 19 points.
 
• The Anchormen were once again able to cut the lead down to three, 92-89, on a pair of freshman guard Jordan Riley (Windsor, Conn.) free throws with 18 seconds left to play.
 
• The Anchormen were unable to get any closer, as they fell to UMD by four, 93-89.
 
• Law scored 27 of his 35 in the second half. Darby finished with 26 points to go with seven assists and one rebound.
 
• Riley finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Freshman forward Ousmane Kourouma (Woonsocket, R.I.) registered a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
 
• UMD was led by senior guard Marcus Azor (Brockton, Mass.) with 29 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
 
• The Corsairs advance to face No. 2-seeded Keene State in the finals.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
• RIC shot 49 percent (32-for-65) from the field, 50 percent (9-for-18) from three-point range and 89 percent (16-for-18) from the foul line.
 
• UMD shot 49 percent (37-for-76) from the field, 42 percent (10-for-24) from downtown and 75 percent (9-for-12) from the foul line.
 
• RIC held the advantage on the glass, 42-35. UMD recorded seven more steals (12; 5).