Big Men Lead No. 9 Ranked Knights over Quincy 90-61!

12.1.21

Warwick, R.I. – December 1, 2021: The No. 9 ranked (NJCAA DIII Men’s Basketball Poll) CCRI Knights Men’s Basketball team hosted the Granite of Quincy College to the Cullen Fieldhouse Tuesday for a Region XXI league game.  The Knights defeated the Granite 90-61. With the victory CCRI improves to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in Region XXI play.

The No. 9 ranked Knights were looking to extend their five-game winning streak as they hosted the Granite of Quincy College on Tuesday evening.  The Granite of Quincy College were looking to snap that win streak and came out of the gates firing from long range.  Quincy quickly took an 11-2 lead four minutes into the game spurred by three 3-pointers.  Knights Head Coach Rick Harris called a timeout to settle down the Knights and help get them into a flow.  His message worked as the Knights went on a quick 10-0 run to take a 12-11 lead at the 12:59 mark of the first half.  The Knights’ run was sparked by freshman point guard Nelvin Blanco (Cranston, RI) who scored six points during that scoring spurt. Over the next two minutes the Knights extended their lead to five points 18-13 with 10:38 left.  Freshman center Levi King (Westerly, RI) was leading the way for the Knights in the first half scoring 21 of his game-high 30 points in the half. The Knights kept scoring while limiting the granite and also dominating the backboards not allowing any second chance scoring opportunities.  CCRI took a 42-30 lead into the halftime break.

In the second half the Knights exploited their tremendous size and athleticism advantage as the pounded the ball inside to their three big men Levi King, co-captain Mitchel Noresca (East Providence, RI) and Theo Jadotte (Providence, RI). Knights’ leading scorer Mitchel Noresca se the pace in the second half scoring 13 of his 16 points in the second. Levi King added nine points to his total while Theo Jadotte added six points. CCRI began to run away with the game as Quincy just had no answer for the size and athleticism of the Knights. The Knights were just playing on another level.  CCRI allowed very few second chance points with 53 rebounds on the evening and they shared he ball as evidence by the 19 team assists.  The Knights also swiped 16 steals on the night and controlled Quincy’s inside scoring with seven blocked shots. The block party was led by Theo Jadotte with three blocks and Mitchel Noresca with two blocked shots. The Knights outscored Quincy 48-31 in the second half to pull away for the 90-61 victory.

Leading the way for the Knights was Levi King with a Double-Double consisting of a career-high 30 points and tied for his career-high with 11 rebounds while adding two steals and assist and a blocked shot.  Co-captain Mitchel Noresca charted his sixth Double-double of the season with 16 points and a season-high 17 rebounds with two blocked shots and three assists.  Freshman forward Theo Jadotte got his first career start and mad eth most of it charting his third Double-Double of the season with 11 points and tied his career-high with 14 rebounds while adding three blocked shots, and two steals.  Also playing very well for CCRI was point guard Nelvin Blanco who scored nine points with seven assists, three steals and four rebounds.    

The next game for the Knights will be Saturday the 4^th at 12noon when they will travel to Haverhill, MA to play the Blue Knights of Northern Essex Community College in a Region XXI league game.                

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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 10,000 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.