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Knights Muzzle Mustangs in Overtime Thriller!

01.20.18

AUBURN, M.E. – January 21, 2018: The CCRI Knights men's basketball team traveled north this past weekend to face the Mustangs from Central Maine Community College (CMCC). After two halves of regulation couldn't separate the teams, the Knights pushed past the Mustangs to win 103-93 in overtime. This win improves the Knights' record to 8-11 overall and 5-1 in conference.

The CCRI men's basketball team fresh of their 1000th win in program history looked to continue winning ways as they traveled to Auburn, Maine Saturday afternoon. The hosting Mustangs of Central Maine CC were victorious in last season's overtime battle against the Knights and came into the game with a record of 12-2. CCRI came off the bus and out of the gates quickly, jumping out to a 2014 lead with 9:48 remaining in the first half. However, three-point shooting brought the Mustangs back into the game and into the lead. At halftime, CMCC led the Knights 43-38.

The second half started much like the first with the knights coming out hot. Josh Williams (Atlanta, GA) started the scoring with five quick points and gave the Knights a 45-43 lead early. Central Maine responded once again, going on a 26-14 run to take the lead 69-59 with 11:30 left in regulation. To combat this, the Knights stepped things up on both sides of the ball, enacting their trapping zone defense and behind the offensive exploits of J.C. Santos (East Providence, RI) who finished the game with 24 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals as well as Josh Williams who had a team high 26 points going 11-17 from the floor and added eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. CCRI battled back to take the 76-73 lead with 8:06 left on the clock. The remainder of the contest went back and forth until the very end. The Knights did secure the final possession but were unable to convert the buzzer-beater shot and head into overtime in an 89-89 tie with the Mustangs.

Overtime saw the Knights jump out once again, but there was no looking back. Josh Williams led things from the floor with seven points in the five-minute period and Drew Ferguson (West Greenwich, RI) from the foul line, making four of his shots. As a team, the Knights went 8-11 from the line to ensure the outcome and after the final buzzer. CCRI was victorious 113-93.

Six players for the Knights hit double figures in scoring. Co-Captain Igor Almeida (Praia, Cape Verde) put forth his best game in a Knights uniform charting his first career double-double with 13 points while ripping down 14 rebounds. Josh Williams had 26, J.C. Santos; 24, David Cabeceiras; 14, Kevin Paygai; 14 and Drew Ferguson had 12.

Head Coach Rick Harris: "The young guys showed a lot of mental toughness today winning in overtime on a good team's home court. Proud of them and looking forward to returning home for games in Warwick Tuesday and Thursday."

UP NEXT: The Knights will host Northern Essex CC on Tuesday Jan. 23 at 7 PM in a Region XXI matchup.

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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England's largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 18,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.