PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Western Connecticut State University men's basketball squad reeled off a 15-0 run with less than six minutes remaining in the contest to capture a 60-48 victory at Little East Conference foe Rhode Island College on Wednesday night at The Murray Center. Graduate student forward Jaheim Young (Brooklyn, N.Y.) paced the Wolves with 13 points, while classmate guard Alfonzo Stokes (Bloomfield, Conn.) chipped in with eight to go along with a team-high nine rebounds. 

Deyshawn Tengbeh led the Anchormen with a game-high 15 points, while Ousmane Kourouma contributed nine and pulled down a game-high 18 boards.

It was a defensive battle the whole way as neither team shot over 36 percent from the field. It was also a cold-shooting night from the free throw line as neither team eclipsed 58 percent from the stripe. Despite being outmuscled on the glass, 50-40, the WestConn bench made up for it, outscoring the RIC reserves, 34-9. The Wolves also forced 20 turnovers which translated to 12 points. They committed just 11 turnovers. 

The visitors built an early 17-12 lead when junior forward Jourdan Belcher (Elmsford, N.Y.) took a feed from classmate guard Jeremiah Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and powered in a layup. The hosts countered, regaining the advantage and widening the gap to 29-23 when Kourouma sank four straight shots from the charity stripe in the final 42 seconds before halftime. 

The lead went back-and-forth much of the second half. However, trailing 48-45, WestConn surged down the stretch to put the game away. Sophomore guard Jaysean Morgan (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) sparked the flurry with a driving runner to the hoop. Moments later, Belcher gave the Wolves the lead for good with a pair from the stripe, giving WestConn a 49-48 edge with 4:59 left to play. The visitors continued to apply the pressure and rookie guard C.J. Riley (Yonkers, N.Y.) iced the contest with a pair of free throws with 51 ticks remaining, rounding the count out at 60-48.

With the win, the Wolves improved to 19-4 overall and 12-2 in league play, while RIC fell to 13-10 and 6-8. WestConn will seek to extend its win streak to seven and avenge an earlier loss this season when they head to Keene State on Saturday at 3 p.m.