Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Chris Bardwell scored the go-ahead basket in overtime as visiting Roger Williams overcame a 10-point deficit to edge Western New England, 65-63, in Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball action at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house on Saturday. The Hawks improve to 6-13 overall and 5-7 in the CCC, while the Golden Bears saw their three-game win streak halted to fall to 6-12 on the season and 4-8 in league play.

Senior guard Nick DeFeo and junior wing Musa Elsir both scored a game-high 17 points to lead Western New England, which forced the extra 5-minute session as DeFeo made one of two free throws with 3 seconds left in regulation with the teams tied at 58-all.

Bardwell scored a team-high 16 points and he grabbed eight rebounds for the Hawks, who also got double doubles from Andrew Wasik (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Josh Syska (13 points, 10 rebounds).

Roger Williams never trailed in OT and came out strong by taking a 64-60 lead, and outscored WNE 7-5 for the final five minutes of the game. DeFeo launched a trey and sank it with 14 seconds remaining to make it 64-63. On RWU's next possession, the Golden Bears intentionally fouled and sent the Hawks to the free throw line. After Ryan Palumbo (5 points, 6 assists) hit one of two shots from the line, the Hawks led 65-63. Following a WNE timeout to set up a play on its final possession, sophomore Luis Agrait (2 assists) released a tough 3-point attempt from the right corner that rimmed out with 3 seconds left. Senior Kevin Wilkes' (10 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocked shots off the bench) put-back try just before the buzzer sounded hit the front of the rim.
 
The Golden Bears looked good out of the gate trading baskets with the Hawks and outshooting them 37.9 percent on 11-for 29 to 26.5 percent on 9-for-34 in the first half.
 
The second half was a whirlwind with the Golden Bears taking a 44-35 lead after a DeFeo 3-ball at the 11:10 mark on the clock. The Hawks cut the deficit over the next 3:40, tying it 46-all on a Syska lay-in.

Western New England went on a mini 7-2 run to go back up 53-48 as the offense was inspired when senior Dennis Rinaldi (8 points, 9 rebounds) dove out of bounds to save the offensive rebound, and he quickly passed it to Wilkes for a layup with 2:55 left in regulation.
 
Roger Williams eventually reclaimed the lead, 56-55, with 47 seconds left, bookended by treys from Wasik and Joseph Henry (4 points).

Wasik made two free throws and Elsir made a lay-in as the teams traded points 15 seconds apart to set the scene for WNE's chance to win in regulation.

Western New England scored 30 points in the paint and eight points off of turnovers, while the Hawks netted 22 in the paint and 14 off giveaways.
 
The Golden Bears finished the game shooting 38.1 percent from field goal range on 24-of-63, and Roger Williams was 25-for-65 for a 38.5 clip.

Western New England travels to Wenham on Tuesday for its next game against CCC foe Gordon, beginning at 7:30 p.m.