Western Connecticut took a 58-57 lead with 4:13 remaining. On the next possession junior guard Kamari Williams (Springfield, MA) scored down low, giving the Anchormen a 59-58 lead.
Both teams missed opportunities as the game clock counted down. Western Connecticut freshman guard Dashon Jennings (Bridgeport, CT) missed a layup from the left baseline and Williams grabbed the rebound with 30 seconds remaining. The Colonials, who had a foul to give, fouled Williams and forced an inbound pass. Junior forward Brian Stanko (Swansea, MA) caught the inbounds pass and was fouled with 23 seconds left in the game. Stanko hit both free throws to give the Anchormen a 61-58 lead.
Western Connecticut senior guard Greg Cole (Terrytown, NY) had two attempts from three-point land to tie the game, but could not connect. RIC junior guard Kinsey Durgin (Greenwood, ME) got the rebound and was fouled with seven seconds on the clock. He hit both shots to seal the win for RIC.
Williams led a balanced Anchormen attack with 13 points. Freshman guard Cameron Stewart (Newport) had ten points.
WCSU sophomore forward Jamie Procino (Yorktown Heights, NY) scored a game-high 18 points. Junior guard Jamaal Robinson (Meriden, CT) had ten points and seven rebounds.
The Anchormen will face second-seeded UMass Boston, which defeated seventh-seeded Eastern Connecticut, 60-56, in the semi-finals of the 2006 LEC Men’s Basketball Tournament. The tournament will be hosted by top-seeded Keene State.