The CCRI men’s basketball team hosted Southern Maine Community College on Saturday afternoon. The snowstorm was weathered by Southern Maine, which traveled early in the morning to make the game happen. Fortunately for the Knights, they were able to pull out the victory in overtime, 79-75. With the victory, the Knights are 9-6 on the season.

The Knights came out of the gate firing. Grant Gillis (Jamestown, Rhode Island) and Adrian La Fleur (Sydney Australia) were both able to get quick buckets to start the game off. Elijah Vazquez (Woonsocket, Rhode Island) followed with a 3-pointer, and the Knights jumped out to an early 7-3 lead.  The game stayed close throughout the first half, with the Knights and Seawolves trading baskets and trading the lead. Vazquez hit three 3-pointers in the first half to help keep pace with the Seawolves. The Knights entered the half down by three with the score 33-30. 

The second half continued the trend started in the first half. Both of the teams continued to trade baskets. With 10 minutes left in the half, the Knights had gained the lead after fighting back from a nine-point deficit, and controlled the game at 50-49.

The game continued to go back-and-forth until it was all knotted up at 66 with just over three minutes remaining.

Both teams continued to fight and looked to find a winning basket. Neither side was able to find a point, sending the game into overtime deadlocked at 66.

In the five-minute overtime period, the scoring picked back up.  The Knights were led in overtime by La Fleur, who had four points in the extra frame, Kevin Paygai (West Warwick, Rhode Island), who had six points, and Edvaldo Ferreira (Praia, Cape Verde), who had three points. The 13 points combined were enough to outscore the Seawolves and lead the Knights to victory.

Offensively, the Knights were led by La Fleur, who had 20 points and four assists on the day with three 3-pointers. He also chipped in seven rebounds and two steals. Paygai had a strong game, scoring 16 points on 50 percent shooting from the field. He also contributed with four assists, three rebounds and one block. Ferreira was his usual self down low. Ferreira had 14 rebounds throughout the contest, while also scoring nine points, assisting on four Knights’ baskets and blocking two shots. 

The Knights will look to keep their winning ways going in a matchup with Central Maine Community College on Wednesday at 7 p.m. following the women’s game at 5 p.m.