North Dartmouth, Mass.--Junior forward Xavier Mendez (Pawtucket, R.I.) picked up 22 points and collected seven rebounds as Rhode Island College defeated UMass Dartmouth, 89-82, at the Tripp Athletic Center on Wednesday evening.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 89, UMass Dartmouth 82
Rhode Island College (11-8, 7-3 LEC) 
UMass Dartmouth (10-9, 4-6 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Coming off his second LEC Player of the Week award this season, Mendez recorded 13 points in the first half to help keep the Anchormen level with the hosts, 40-40, with 20 minutes left to play.
 
• Both teams exchanged buckets early in the second half until the Anchormen broke it open with a layup from senior guard CJ Wilson (Hartford, Conn.), which gave him 11 points, with 8:30 remaining.
 
• The largest lead for the visitors, 81-70, came with just under five minutes left in the game, but the Corsairs kept themselves alive by converting a couple turnovers to cut their deficit to three, 85-82.
 
• Freshman guard Noe Bom (Hamburg, Germany) nailed a pair of free throws with under 30 seconds left to seal the Anchormen's third consecutive conference win.
 
• Senior forward Tyriek Weeks (Warwick, R.I.) posted 19 points to pair with five boards and five steals.
 
• Wilson finished with 11 points and six assists, while Bom notched 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East play at VTSU Castleton on Saturday, Jan. 31 (3 p.m.).