BOXSCORE l CUMULATIVE STATS
POMONA, N.J. -- Nazareth senior Joe Canori missed a potential game-winning three-point shot in the closing seconds Friday as Rhode Island College held off the hard-charging Golden Flyers for a 77-73 men's basketball victory in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Richard Stockton College.

Trailing by two, 75-73, with :15 left, Nazareth tried to set up Canori for a game-winning shot. He was double teamed along the left side of the three-point arc, but managed to launch an off-balance attempt that bounced off the front of the rim. Rhode Island College's Tirrell Hill secured the rebound, was fouled and sank the two resulting free throws with :01 left.

The loss ended Nazareth's 2007-08 season with a 20-8 record. It was the Golden Flyers' first 20-win season since 2002-03. Nazareth also was playing its first NCAA Tournament game since 1998.

Rhode Island College improved to 23-6 overall. The Anchormen, champions of the Little East Conference, play again Saturday at 7 p.m. against Richard Stockton, an 84-75 overtime winner over Immaculata in Friday's second game.

The Golden Flyers got off to a good start as they used a 15-2 scoring run to build a 19-10 lead with 13:19 to play in the first half. Junior Ryan McAdam started the run with a two-point jumper followed by a three-pointer from Canori. After Rhode Island's basket, senior Tyler Smith answered for Nazareth with a layup followed by a second three-pointer from Canori. The Golden Flyers ended the run with two free throws from Ryan McAdam and a layup and free throw from junior Jeff DeHimer.

The Anchormen put together their own scoring run to end the first half. Rhode Island rallied to take a five-point lead with about five minutes to play before settling for a two-point advantage, 35-33, at halftime.

The Anchormen never trailed thereafter as they stretched their lead to 11 points, 51-40, on a basket by Wil Lyons with 12:31 left. The lead was still as large as nine points, 65-56, with as little as 3:48 left when the Golden Flyers embarked on a furious comeback.

Freshman Brian Gebhardt began Nazareth's comeback attempt by making a layup with 3:33 to play. Gebhardt then forced a turnover and Canori tipped in Gebhardt's missed shot to cut the Golden Flyers' deficit to 65-60 with 3:05 remaining.

With Nazareth employing full-court pressure, the teams traded baskets until Canori connected on a three-pointer with :21 to play to cut the lead to one-point, 74-73. RIC's Bobby Bailey made one of two free throws to give the Anchormen a two-point advantage before Canori's final shot attempt.

Ryan McAdam finished with a game-high 20 points for Nazareth. Canori added 17 points while Corey McAdam recorded 13 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Smith also chipped in eight points and eight rebounds for the Golden Flyers. Canori, who closed out his career as Nazareth's all-time scoring leader, amassed 1,921 points.

The Anchormen had four players who scored in double figures, including junior Cameron Stewart with 17 points. Lyons added 14, Anthony Fortes 13 and Bailey 12. Tirrell had nine points and eight rebounds.

Free-throw shooting proved to be a decisive statistic. Rhode Island College made 16 of 19 shots from the line, while the Golden Flyers went 11 for 18 and missed the front end of three one-and-one opportunities.