Men's Basketball Can't Overcome Second-Half Rally From RIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Elms College men's basketball team was denied its bid for back-to-back victories on Monday night after a furious second-half rally from Rhode Island College sent the Blazers home with a 71-59 loss.

RIC (5-16) out-scored Elms (2-19) 38-25 in the second half to erase Elms' 34-33 halftime advantage. The Anchormen started the second half with a 10-2 run and extended the lead to double-digits mid-way through the period. Greg Metelus (Palm Beach, Fla.) went on a personal 5-1 spurt to pull the Blazers within four, 53-49, with just under five minutes left in the game, but Elms never got any closer.

Metelus finished with a game-high 19 points and added five rebounds and four assists for Elms. Michal Ohradka (Feeding Hills, Mass.) added 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Blazers, and D.J. Edelen (Prince George, Va.) finished with eight points off the bench.

Justin Campbell (New Haven, Conn.) scored 17 points for RIC and CJ Donaldson (Bridgeport, Conn.) added 16 points and seven helpers.

RIC shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the field in the game while Elms hit 40.6 percent (26-of-64) of its shots. RIC also held a slight edge on the glass, 38-36 but shot an astounding 20 more free throws than the Blazers, going 18-of-23 (78.3 percent) at the line while Elms converted all three of its attempts.

Monday's contest was originally scheduled for Jan. 4 before winter weather forced the game to be postponed.

The Blazers return to action on Wednesday with a game at New England Collegiate Conference foe Dean College. RIC will visit Western Connecticut State the same day.