Providence, R.I.--Sophomore guard Jordan Riley (Windsor, Conn.) scored a career high 26 points as the Rhode Island College men's basketball team were edged by Western Connecticut, 82-80, in Little East action played at the Murray Center on Monday night.
 
THE BASICS
Western Connecticut 82, Rhode Island College 80
Western Connecticut (8-7, 3-5 LEC)
Rhode Island College (11-5, 4-4 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Western went up by 12 points, 29-17, with nine minutes to play in the first half. RIC would embark on a 17-6 scoring run and eventually take a one-point, 34-33, advantage at 3:17 thanks to a Riley free throw.
 
• With the clock running down in the first half, WestConn junior forward Jaheim Young (Brooklyn, N.Y.) grabbed an offensive rebound and put up a floater as the clock expired to give the visitors a, 43-41, lead at the half.
 
• While the game remained close, RIC would never get the lead back from Western Connecticut. The hosts climbed within one point, 78-77, with 30 seconds left. Young hit a big bucket to make it a two possession game with 40 seconds left and Western would hit its free throws and ice the game.
 
• Riley connected on four from long range. He also had nine boards and three steals.
 
• Sophomore guard Damian Tucker (Boynton Beach, Fla.) had 20 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. Tucker was white hot from downtown, going 7-for-13 from behind the three-point arc.
 
• Junior guard Shion Darby (Peekskill, N.Y.) also had 20 points and seven rebounds in a losing effort.
 
• WCSU junior guard Kendall Robinson (East Patchogue, N.Y.) had an impressive 22 points and 12 rebounds, which included an alley-oop dunk towards the end of the game.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
• RIC shot 41 percent (29-for-71) from the field, 33 percent (12-for-36) from downtown and 63 percent (10-for-16) from the free throw line.
 
• WCSU shot 44 percent (30-for-68) from the field, 28 percent (6-for-21) from behind the three-point arc and 84 percent (16-for-19) from the charity stripe.
 
 WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East action at home vs. Southern Maine on Wednesday, Jan. 26 (6 p.m.).