Box Score

NEWPORT, R.I. -- Senior guard Ryan Birrell (Hope, R.I,) had 26 points, six rebounds and six assists to power the Salve Regina University men's basketball team to a 75-58 win over the University of New England in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference game played Saturday afternoon at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

Birrell was 11-for-13 at the free throw line for the Seahawks (7-7, 1-2 TCCC), who connected on 84 percent (21 of 25) of their foul shot attempts. First-year forward Scott St. Lawrence (Litchfield, N.H.) contributed 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the floor. Senior forward Dan Royce (Mahwah, N.J.) added nine points, eight boards and three blocks.

Juniors Ryan Knotek (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and Marcus Winn (Austin, Texas) each had 13 points for UNE. Senior guard Chas Rentrope (Peoria, Ariz.) scored nine points and grabbed a team-best five rebounds.

After Winn scored from the paint to get UNE on the scoreboard, the Seahawks scored eight consecutive points to establish an 8-2 lead, an advantage they failed to relinquish the remainder of the contest. Salve pushed the lead to 15 on three separate occasions before settling for a 35-22 cushion at intermission.

UNE closed to within eight (44-36) midway thru the second frame, but Salve answered with eight straight points to fuel a 14-3 run to push the lead to 19 (58-39).

The Seahawks shot 48.1 percent (25 of 52) for the game, thanks in part to 36 points in the paint. They also received 27 points from their bench.

The Nor'easters (2-13, 0-3) will be looking for their first TCCC win Wednesday when they host Eastern Nazarene College at 8 p.m.

Salve heads to Dudley, Mass. that same evening for a 5:30 p.m. tilt at Nichols College.