Keene, N.H.-Rhode Island College freshman guard Jimmy Fritzson (Sharon, MA) scored a game-high 19 points, while also grabbing four rebounds, as the men's basketball team fell to Little East rival Keene State, 71-64, at Spaulding Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

The Anchormen (2-13, 1-4 LEC) opened an 8-4 lead 3:46 into the first half when Fritzson buried a three-pointer off a feed from sophomore guard Chris Green (Taunton, MA). The Owls (9-5, 2-3 LEC) responded by using a 16-9 run, which was capped by a pair of free throws by junior guard Matt Ozzella (Medway, MA), to take a 20-17 lead with 6:58 remaining in the first half. The Anchormen bounced back, outscoring the Owls, 17-10, over the remainder of the frame to take a 34-30 lead heading into the halftime break.

RIC shot 36.7 percent (11-for-30) from the field in the half, while the Owls shot 45.8 percent (11-for-24) from the floor.

A Fritzson jumper with 16:35 left in the game put the Anchormen up, 36-35, but the Owls responded, using a 6-2 run to take a 41-38 lead with 15:20 left in the contest.

A back-and-forth battle ensued, with the Anchormen trimming the deficit down  to one, 57-56, following a trey by sophomore guard Roosevelt Shider (Meriden, CT) with 5:48 left in the contest.

RIC took its  final lead of the contest, 64-63, with 2:34 left when Fritzson buried a three with the assist going to Green. The Owls' defense rose to the challenge, holding the Anchormen scoreless and scoring the game's final eight points to pick up the win.

RIC shot 37.3 percent (22-for-59) from the field, 36.7 percent (11-for-30) from three-point range and 81.8 percent (9-for-11) from the charity stripe as a team. Fritzson's 19 led the way, with Green contributing 13 points and dishing out four assists. Shider rounded out the Anchormen in double-digit scoring, tossing in 13 points in the loss.

KSC shot 47.2 percent (25-for-53) from the field, 28.6 percent (2-for-7) from downtown and 67.9 percent (19-for-28) from the free throw line. Junior forward Jeff Lunn (Nashua, NH) scored a team-high 18 points with Ozzella chipping in with 17. Senior center Nate Howard (Cheshire, CT) posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East Conference action at home against UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday, Jan. 20 (7:30 p.m.).