FROM STAFF REPORTS The CCRI Knights Men’s Basketball Team hosted the No. 10 ranked (NJCAA DIII Men’s Basketball Poll) Lions of Nassau Community College from Garden City, NY to the Cullen Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon. The Knights and Lions tipped-off the 2021 CCRI Men’s Basketball Tip-off Tournament. CCRI Fell to Nassau 70-67 with the loss The Knights begin the season 0-1.

The Knights and Lions have faced off many times and each game prove to be an exciting contest and this game was no different. Both teams traded baskets to begin the game before the Lions of Nassau went on a defensive tear to take a nine point lead mid-way through the first half. The Knights would answer with a run of their own to tie the game and eventually take a 36-32 lead into the halftime break. 

The second half was similar to the first half with Nassau creating turnovers for the Knights to create easy transition baskets. The Lions had 14 steals in the game. The Knights answered by dominating the boards by outrebounding Nassau 45-19. The game remained tight down the stretch but key turnovers cost the Knights the opportunity to win the game.  Nassau tried to extend their lead as the game drew to a close but they were not making their free throws (10-27). Unfortunately, for the Knights the Lions frenetic defense coupled with a lack of execution down the stretch allowed the No. 10 Lions to escape with the narrow 70-67 victory.

Leading the way for the Knights Saturday was sophomore Forward Mitchell Noresca (East Providence) who charted his first double-double of the year with a team-high 13 points and game-high 16 rebounds to go with three blocked shots, an assist and a steal. Noresca was helped by freshman Theo Jadotte (Providence) who came off the bench to chart a double-double scoring 11 points with 14 rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal. Freshman Forward Michael Resnick (Gloucester) who scored 13 points with three rebounds. Freshman Guard RJ Pina (East Providence) came off the bench to score 10 points with four assist and a steal. Freshman Levi King (Westerly) was in a bit of foul trouble but still contributed nine points with six rebounds and a steal.