Providence, R.I.--Junior center Ousmane Kourouma (Woonsocket, R.I.) notched a 21-point, 14-rebound double-double as the Rhode Island College men's basketball team defeated Plymouth State, 79-72, in Little East action played at The Murray Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 79, Plymouth State 72
Rhode Island College (5-10, 3-4 LEC)
Plymouth State (7-9, 1-7 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Kourouma hit a layup with around 11 minutes remaining on the clock in the first half to give the Anchormen a 19-15 advantage. In the following six minutes, PSU would go on a 20-4 run, led by 13 points from senior guard Giorgi Tsiklauri (Brooklyn, N.Y.), to go up by 12, 35-23.
 
• The Panthers would see their lead evaporate down to a mere two points, 36-34, at halftime after RIC went on a big scoring run of its own.
 
• Both teams traded leads back-and-forth over the first 10 minutes of the second half.
 
• RIC would take the lead, 56-55, at 9:52 following a layup by freshman guard Nathaniel Maldonado (Bronx, N.Y.) and would not trail again for the rest of the contest. The Anchormen registered a 16-7 run, with seven points coming from Maldonado.
 
• The Panthers did not go down quietly, however. They were able to make it a three-point game, 75-72, after a layup from Tsiklauri, with just 39 seconds remaining. RIC missed some key free throws down the stretch, but held on for the win that stopped a four-game losing streak.
 
• Kourouma added four blocks to his big stat line. Maldonado chipped in with 17 points and five rebounds.
 
• PSU junior guard Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) had 25 points, including the first 15 of the game for the Panthers. He added eight rebounds and five assists.
 
• Tsiklauri had 20 points and five rebounds in the loss.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East action at UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday, Jan. 18 (7:30 p.m.).