PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Freshman Roel Figueroa scored a team-high 24 points for the JWU (Providence) men's basketball team in a 79-69 loss to Rhode Island College Wednesday night in non-conference action at the Wildcat Center.

Figueroa exploded for 20 points in the second-half, knocking down 7-of-13 from the field – including three triples – in 30 minutes off the bench for the Wildcats (1-1). Graduate student Sean Duke chipped in with 14 points and seven boards while senior Josh Zangerle scored 10 points.

The Wildcats trailed by six at halftime (34-28) as the Anchormen canned 52 percent of their shots, led by Ousmane Kourouma, who was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and led all student-athletes with 17 points. Duke sparked JWU off the bench with a team-leading nine while senior Jonah Phang pulled down five boards in the opening 20 minutes.

RIC opened the second half on a 9-2 run to open up a 13-point lead less than three minutes in. The Wildcats responded with a 13-2 run of their own – sparked by eight from Figueroa – to make it a 45-43 game with 13 minutes to go.

Later, Kourouma drained a pair of free throws with 7:21 on the clock for his 1,000th and 1,001th career points to keep the RIC lead at 10 at 64-54. Figueroa knocked down a three with 1:52 remaining that brought the Wildcats to within six, but they were unable to close the gap any further.

Phang closed the night with seven points and seven boards while graduate student Mike Rogers put up six points, five boards and three dimes. JWU shot 41 percent for the game compared to 51 for the Anchormen, and was outrebounded 36-31.