NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College men's basketball team picked up its third-straight win with a 68-62 victory over Roger Williams University on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference showdown at Luce Field House.

In a clash of styles that pitted outside shooting against size, the Camels (3-1 overall) pounded the ball down low for a 42-12 scoring advantage in the paint. Conn big men David Murray (Jackson Heights, N.Y.) and Andrew Hartel (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) led the charge, the former with a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds and the latter with 16 points and four boards.

The Hawks (1-1 overall) stayed in the game behind their long-range attack, with seven players combining for 14 three-pointers on the afternoon. More than 60 percent of RWU's shots came from downtown, and the visitors connected on 48 percent of their attempts. Mac Annus (Belmont, Mass.) led the way with 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting from deep.

The entire game was played within a six-point window, as neither side was able to pull away. The Camels led 30-29 at the break, setting the stage for a second half that featured three ties and six lead changes.

Early in the second half, the Hawks pulled in front on a three by Annus and bumped the lead to five following treys from Nate Mullen (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) and Max Manjos (Monroe, Conn.). The Camels called a timeout at the 13:27 mark and quickly straightened things out, vaulting back into the lead behind nine unanswered points. 

The Hawks edged back in front on a three by John Ah Kao (Dumont, N.J.) with 7:10 remaining. Murray responded with a jumper in the paint to even the score, but Philip Sughrue (Winchester, Mass.) put the visitors back on top with another three-ball.

Conn took the lead for good when Ryan Banks (Bracknell, England) found RJ Casey (Nashville, Tenn.) for a three-pointer on the wing, giving the hosts a 60-58 advantage with 4:09 to play. Over the next two minutes, Murray helped pad the margin with a pair of buckets that included a big offensive rebound and put back with 1:35 to go.

With the Camels leading by four, Cam Schainfeld (Newton, Mass.) came up with a steal on the sideline and was fouled with 22 seconds remaining. Conn looked to get the ball inbounds and add to the lead from the line, but Nate Lopes (Scituate, Mass.) came up with a steal that led to a layup by Ah Kao to draw the Hawks within two.

In the game's final moments, it was the biggest man on the floor who came through in the clutch. The Hawks fouled Hartel with 12 seconds left on the clock, and the six-foot-nine sophomore calmly stepped to the line and buried both free throws to make it a two-possession game. Billy Whelan (Hamilton, Mass.) later added a pair of freebies to sew up the win.

The Camels shot a season-high 52 percent from the floor, led by efficient performances by both Murray (11-for-14) and Hartel (7-for-11). Schainfeld and Whelan chipped in eight points apiece, and Conn finished with a 31-22 edge on the glass to go along with 10 steals.

Conn College returns to action at Salve Regina University on Tuesday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m.