Statistics

BRISTOL, R.I. -- Austin Coene (CCC Player of the Year) produced game-highs of 25 points and 19 rebounds to power third-seeded Roger Williams University in a 102-87 decision versus sixth-seeded University of New England in the opening round of the 2019 Commonwealth Coast Conference Men's Basketball Championship on Tuesday evening (Feb. 19) at the Campus Recreation Center.

The Hawks (15-11) move on to visit second-seeded Gordon College (a 94-77 winner over Wentworth) in one of Thursday's semifinals [Interactive Bracket]. The Nor'easters conclude the season at 7-19 overall.

Coene nearly had a double-double in each half for the hosts, already at 14 points and 10 boards by the intermission. Roger Williams got 21 points from Drew Hart (CCC 3rd Team) and another 16 out of Rich Pugliese; combined, they made 15-of-20 field-goal tries. Eli Harris tossed in four 1st-half three-pointers to account for his 12 points.

The Hawks shot 59 percent (36-for-61) as a team in the match, which included 13-of-25 accuracy from deep. RWU out-scored UNE by 36 points from behind the arc; the Nor'easters took just 15 attempts from long range, less than half of their previous low all season.

For the visitors, Ryan Beatty netted a career-high 24 points, with 20 following halftime. Avery DeBrito added 17 points, while Jordan Bagshaw and DeMarquez Hadnot contributed 11 each. Drew Patno grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds for the Nor'easters, who scored 23 points off 17 Hawks turnovers.

Roger Williams had a 20-16 edge in the opening frame when Harris knocked down back-to-back treys (26-16). The spread was still 10 (44-34) nearing the break, but the Hawks tacked on a 12-2 run in the final two minutes to take a 56-36 advantage. The home side went 10-for-15 from downtown in the period.

After the gap increased to as high as 26 in the 2nd, UNE gradually chipped into the deficit. The Nor'easters closed within nine (94-85) at the 1:22 mark.