Providence, R.I.--Junior center Ousmane Kourouma (Woonsocket, R.I.) recorded a double-double as the Rhode Island College men's basketball team was defeated by Eastern Connecticut, 73-64, in Little East action played at The Murray Center on Wednesday night.
 
THE BASICS
Eastern Connecticut State 73, Rhode Island College 64
Eastern Connecticut State (5-8, 2-2 LEC)
Rhode Island College (4-9, 2-3 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• RIC was down by 17, 44-27, at the half.
 
• RIC chipped aways at the Warriors' lead and were able to make the game a single-digit deficit, 51-43, with 11:30 left in the second half following a Kourouma bucket.
 
• The Anchormen were able to get the game down to three points on multiple occasions late in the period, while a huge three-pointer by freshman guard Grady Bizyak (Raleigh, N.C.) chopped the advantage to just two points, 61-59, with four minutes remaining.
 
• Shortly after however, ECSU was able to go on a small scoring run to put the Anchormen out of reach.
 
• Kourouma finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. Freshman guard Anthony Rivera (Staten Island, N.Y.) dropped in a game-high 21 points.
 
• For ECSU, four student athletes ended with double-digits, with senior forward Rakesh Tibby (East Hartford, Conn.) scoring 18 points and pulling down 10 boards in 28 minutes off of the bench.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East action at home vs. Western Connecticut on Wednesday, Jan. 11 (6 p.m.).