Rosa’s Record-Tying Shooting Performance Leads Pride to Victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. – Behind a career-high scoring performance from senior Dimitri Rosa (Tiverton, R.I.) that also tied a school record, Regis College defeated Fitchburg State University, 83-80, Wednesday night in a non-conference men's collegiate basketball game at Parkinson Gymnasium.

Rosa tied the Regis single-game record for made three-pointers, hitting 8-of-11 long distance shots as he finished with a career-high 28 points. Jalil Wilkerson (New Haven, Conn.) came off the bench and finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Marc Trinidad (Bronx, N.Y.) notched his sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 rebounds, and Devante Thompson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

In a game that featured 10 ties and 16 lead changes, Fitchburg State hit three straight baskets early in the second half to take a 47-43 lead, but Regis responded with a jumper by Trinidad and a three-pointer from Rosa. After another Rosa three-pointer a few minutes later, the Falcons received baskets from Xavier Betancourt and Charles Doss as well as two free throws from Betancourt to pull ahead, 57-54.

The two teams traded baskets until Betancourt hit a jumper with 7:28 remaining in the second half to put the Falcons on top, 67-66. Baskets by Trinidad, Wilkerson, and Thompson in the next minute-and-a-half gave the Pride their largest lead of the night at 72-67, but layups by Keegan Sharp and Doss closed the Falcon deficit to one with five minutes to go in regulation.

Rosa responded with a three-pointer to increase the Regis lead back to four, where it would return when Josh Germain (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) answered a Sharp layup with a successful floater. The Pride seemingly increased its momentum when Thompson stopped a Falcon fast break attempt, but Betancourt grabbed the offensive rebound and found Dominik Williams for a three-pointer.

Fitchburg State (6-7) would retake the lead on a defensive stop and ensuing layup by Williams, but Thompson drew a foul on Regis' next possession and made both free throws. Trinidad picked up a steal on the Falcons' next possession, and then Thompson was successful on two more free throw attempts to increase the Pride lead to three with 17 seconds left in regulation.

After the Falcons missed a potential tying three-pointer, Sharp converted a layup to keep the home team close. Rosa was fouled and made both free throws, and Fitchburg State's final attempt to tie the game was off-target.

Sharp led the Falcons with 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field along with 10 rebounds, while Doss and Betancourt scored 12 points apiece. As a team, Fitchburg State shot 49.3 percent (34-of-69) from the field, but just 2-of-16 from behind the three-point line, and 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from the free throw line.

The Pride shot 42.3 percent (30-of-71) from the field, including 12-of-26 from behind the three-point line, and 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw line. Regis won the rebounding battle, 42-38, including 18 offensive rebounds that led to 27 second chance points.

Regis (3-9) opens Great Northeast Athletic Conference play Saturday, Jan. 11, in Providence, R.I., against Johnson & Wales University starting at 3 p.m. The Pride host Lasell in a non-conference contest next Wednesday, Jan. 15, beginning at 7 p.m. at Higgins Court.