PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Junior Calvin Jones (Providence, R.I.) hit a layup with just under three seconds left to lift the Johnson & Wales University men's basketball team to a thrilling 77-75 victory against Salve Regina in a non-conference contest at the Harborside Recreation Center on Thursday evening.

Johnson & Wales junior Lamonte Thomas (Providence, R.I.) scored a team-best 17 points and added six rebounds and three assists while senior Darren Faust (Queens, N.Y.) had 16 points and five boards for the Wildcats.  Jones chipped in with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals in the victory.

Senior Dan Royce (Mahwah, N.J.) had a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds for Salve Regina while fellow senior Windell Hinkson (Groton, Conn.) had 17 points and six rebounds in the loss for the Seahawks.

The two teams traded leads early in the contest with Salve Regina holding a 20-17 lead on a layup by sophomore William Smiley (Saunderstown, R.I.) with 8:43 left in the first half.  JWU then used a 10-3 run, capped by a three-point play by Thomas to put the Wildcats up 27-23 with 5:32 remaining.  The squads exchanged baskets down the stretch in the first half with Salve Regina taking the 36-34 lead into the locker room at halftime.  

Salve Regina extended its lead early in the second half and held a 50-42 lead after a three-point play by freshman Scott St. Lawrence (Litchfield, N.H.) with 15:05 remaining.  JWU proceeded to chip away at the lead and tied the game at 60-60 on a layup by junior Mike Harris (Providence, R.I.) with 8:16 left on the clock.

The visiting Seahawks led by as many as six (70-64) with 5:33 left, but once again the Wildcats responded.  After a pair of free throws by JWU senior Louis Ferreras (Providence, R.I.) knotted the game at 75-75 with :27 left, Jones capitalized on a Salve Regina turnover and hit the layup with just under three seconds left on the clock to give the Wildcats the victory.

With the win Johnson & Wales is now 2-3 for the season while Salve Regina falls to 3-2.  The Wildcats will return to action on Saturday, December 4 when they travel to Suffolk for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest at 3 p.m.; the Seahawks host Roger Williams University in non-league action at the Rodgers Recreation Center (1 p.m.).

Courtesy of Johnson & Wales sports information