2014 -- S 2573

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM ON

WINNING THE 2014 LITTLE EAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL

TOURNAMENT

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Men’s Basketball team entered the 2014 Little East

Conference Tournament as a decided underdog but stunned college basketball observers by

defeating an Eastern Connecticut team that had compiled an undefeated record in conference

play; and

     WHEREAS, After compiling a 17-8 regular season record and going 11-3 in regular

season conference play, the Rhode Island College Anchormen entered the 2014 Little East

Conference Tournament with something to prove. After defeating Southern Maine in a hard-

fought first round game, and dispatching UMass Dartmouth in the semi-finals, Rhode Island

College faced an Eastern Connecticut team that went undefeated in regular season conference

play and defeated Rhode Island College twice in the regular season. Adding to the difficulty of

the task facing Rhode Island College was the fact that the game was being played on the road, at

Eastern Connecticut; and

     WHEREAS, In one of the greatest victories in the history of Rhode Island College

Basketball, the Anchormen attacked Eastern Connecticut from the start with an aggressive,

swarming defense that caused Eastern Connecticut to commit 17 turnovers, en route to a

convincing 70-61 victory by Rhode Island College to earn the sixth Little East Conference

Tournament Championship in the history of Rhode Island College Men's Basketball; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island College took an early 7-4 lead on a three-point shot by Senior

guard Tom DeCiantis, a lead Rhode Island College would not relinquish. Rhode Island College’s

victory was a true team effort. The Little East 2014 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Junior

Forward Chris Burton, chipped in twelve points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocked

shots, Junior Guard Eric Alleyne scored a team-high 19 points on seven of ten shooting, Junior

Forward Victor Smith added 17 points, seven rebounds, with eight of eleven shooting, Senior

Guard Tom DeCiantis scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds, Senior Guard Michael

Palumbo passed out a game high five assists, and Freshman Forward Terrance Tribble

contributed eight vital points and six crucial rebounds off the bench; and

     WHEREAS, This great victory by the Rhode Island College Men's Basketball Team was

momentous for numerous reasons including the fact that with the Rhode Island College Women’s

Basketball Team also winning the 2014 Little East Conference Tournament, this marked only the

second time in league history that a single school has won both the men’s and women's Little East

Conference Tournament in the same year; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a team championship in any sport requires that every member of

the team is completely dedicated to giving their all and sacrificing individual desires in the cause

of team goals. The Rhode Island College Basketball Team had that in abundance with the

contributions provided by Eric Alleyne, John Gause, Tom DeCiantis, Chris Burton, Victor Smith,

Nyheem Sanders, Jazz Robinson, Austin Cilley, Michael Palumbo, Terrance Tribble, Jacob Page

and Mike Neal, as well as the innovative coaching and outstanding leadership provided by Head

Coach Bob Walsh, and Assistant Coaches Mike Romano and Anthony Leonelli. We wish the

Rhode Island College Men’s Basketball Team good fortune as they move on to play in the NCAA

Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament for the eighth consecutive season; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates the Rhode Island College Men’s Basketball Team on winning the 2014

Little East Conference Men's Basketball Tournament; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Rhode Island College Men's Basketball Head

Coach Bob Walsh.

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