Knights Defeat UCAP in Region XXI Semifinals!
03.02.20
Mitchel Noresca
Warwick, R.I. – March 3, 2020: The CCRI Knights men’s basketball team traveled to Brockton, MA and the campus of Massasoit Community College to take on the UConn Avery Point (UCAP) Pointers in the Region XXI Semifinal. The Knights played rock solid defense and kept the Pointers at bay in route to a 74-62 victory. The win improves CCRI’s season record 22-10 overall and 18-3 in Region XXI play.
Saturday’s semifinal was the third meeting between CCRI and UCAP of the season. They first met on November 12th where CCRI won 89-73 and met again on February 1st where CCRI won a much tighter game 78-74.
The Knights played fantastic defense against a hot scoring Pointers squad that dropped 102 points against a talented Quincy Community College team. UCAP was kept quiet through the opening 20 minutes as CCRI went into the halftime break with a 34-28 lead. The Knights were led by freshmen Mitchel Noresca (East Providence, RI) and Mikey Gamble (Hartford, CT) as they scored 11 and 10 first half points respectively.
The second half started with both team’s level, trading points for points before UCAP made a charge to take the lead back from CCRI. With approximately eight minutes remaining the Pointers were on top 57-54. The move was made to bring on freshman Steve DelSesto (North Providence, RI) who promptly sank back to back three-pointers, re-sparking the Knights’ offense as they took a 63-57 lead with just under four minutes remaining.
At this point CCRI ran their half-court defense and slowed the UCAP offense down. The Knights hit their free-throws down the stretch of the game to seal off the contest and win the semifinal 74-62.
CCRI was led by Mitchel Noresca as he produced 23 rebounds, 22 points, three assists and one steal. Mikey Gamble scored 21 points while adding nine rebounds and two assists. Sophomore co-captain Dylan Durante (Johnston RI) chipped in 10 points, with two three-pointers and adding four rebounds.
The CCRI Knights men’s basketball team will next be in action on Sunday, March 1st at 2:00 p.m. as they take on the Gateway Community College Lions in the Region XXI Championship.
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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 15,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 10 varsity, four club programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.