Providence, R.I.--Senior guard Deyshawn Tengbeh (East Providence, R.I.) registered 21 points, five assists and three steals as Rhode Island College defeated VTSU Castleton, 98-87, in Little East action played at The Murray Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 98, VTSU Castleton 87
Rhode Island College (13-5, 8-1 LEC)
VTSU Castleton (3-14, 2-7 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Spartans started the game with a lot of energy as VTSU Castleton led by seven, 16-8, within the first five minutes.
 
• The Anchormen, coming off a media timeout, would go on a 13-2 run as they would regain the lead, 21-18, with 12 minutes to play in the first half.
 
• RIC would dominate the rest of the first half, pushing its lead to 17, 57-40, as the first half would come to an end.
 
• Nine minutes through the second half, freshman guard Jalen Claude (New Haven, Conn.) made a jump shot to push the RIC lead up to 21, 77-56.
 
• However, the Spartans found some momentum with 4:30 left to play as an Anchorman turnover resulted in a fastbreak layup for the visitors, which cut their lead down to 10, 88-78.
 
• This would be the closest VTSU Castleton would get to a comeback as the Anchormen won their eighth conference game.
 
• Claude poured in a career-high 13 points off the bench.

• Fifth-year forward Ousmane Kourouma (Woonsocket, R.I.) notched his 15^th double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Kourouma leads the nation (Div. III) in rebounds per game at 15.4.
 
• The 98 points are the most RIC has scored in a game this winter.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East play at Southern Maine on Wednesday, Jan. 29 (7:30 p.m.).