ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan College men's basketball team staged a furious rally in the closing minutes to defeat Queens College 90-84 on Wednesday night.
The Redhawks made sure no late heroics would be necessary on Thursday, using an early 18-2 run to build a 20-point halftime lead en route to an 80-67 victory over the College of Staten Island in an East Coast Conference game at the Voller Athletic Center.
"We knew that we wanted to get out to a good start," Roberts coach Mark Saladzius said. "Our whole thing was to get out there and hit them first and play well offensively and defensively."
Roberts (11-9, 9-6 ECC) did just that while winning its third straight game.
Sophomore Ja'Kair Sanchez led the Redhawks with 19 points and nine rebounds and senior Rian Carter contributed 17 points. Carter scored 12 in the first half and Sanchez added 11.
Abou Gbane added nine points and five rebounds and Amari Lee scored eight, all in the first half.
Roberts was able to penetrate the CSI defense and unleash its fast break, scoring 42 points in the paint.
"I think that we were able to use some jump stops to get inside and create and we were also able to get some easy buckets in transition," Saladzius said.
Roberts also avenged an 80-77 loss at CSI on Feb. 9.
The Redhawks will play their final home game of the regular season at 4 p.m. Saturday against Molloy College in the Voller Athletic Center.