La Rosa provides boost off bench; Seahawks score big win over Lancers, 78-63

NEWPORT, R.I. - After going scoreless for the first 4:15 of its first game, Salve Regina University men's basketball inserted freshman guard Alex La Rosa (Salem, N.H.) who immediately sank his first two 3-point attempts and put the Seahawks ahead, 6-5, on the way to a 78-63 victory over visiting Worcester State University in non-league action at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

Salve Regina (1-0) missed its first six field goals and committed four turnovers before the game was four minutes old, but Worcester State (0-1) matched with its own scoreless effort while going 0-for-3 from the floor and handing the Seahawks four turnovers. Lancer senior guard Ryan Testagrossa (Athol, Mass.) scored the first points of the season on a 3-pointer at the 16:17 mark.

Senior guard Windell Hinkson (Groton, Conn.) contributed a pair of 3-pointers and a layup while La Rosa added a layup and another 3-pointer as Salve Regina went on a 13-1 run to build a double-digit lead (19-6) that it would maintain the rest of the game. La Rosa and senior forward Dan Royce (Mahwah, N.J.) led all scorers with 11 points each at intermission, which featured a 14-point Seahawk lead (44-30).

"Our guys played with tremendous energy tonight," ninth-year head coach Sean Foster said. "I believe our depth going forward will be a strength as the freshmen adapt to the level. I'm extremely pleased with the poise of our upperclassmen. They controlled the pace that led us to success in game one."

In the second half, the first six Seahawk field goals came in the paint with Royce (4) and Hinkson (2) combining for six layups. Freshman guard John Williamson (Littleton, Mass.) drained his first collegiate 3-pointer for a 21-point lead (59-38) at the 13:18 mark. Hinkson's third 3-pointer at the 6:38 mark gave Salve Regina its largest lead of the game, 29 points (74-45).

The Seahawks made 14-of-28 shots from the floor in the second half to finish with 44.8 field goal percentage for the game. Senior guard Ryan Birrell (Hope, R.I.) dished out six assists and grabbed three rebounds. Royce finished with a game-high 20 points while his freshman teammate and starter Patrick Dinneen (Medfield, Mass.) recorded five steals.

Senior forward Dave Douillette (Bridgewater, Mass.) led the Lancers with 14 points while sophomore forward Monte Goodwin (Boston, Mass.) had 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The game ended with a 33-point turnaround from last January's outcome in Worcester (Lancers 72, Seahawks 54).

Salve Regina next plays Wednesday night in Smithfield in an exhibition game against Division I Bryant University (7 p.m.). The Lancers play at Becker on Friday (3 p.m.) in first-round action of the Worcester County Classic.