WXIN Falls to Anchor in Annual Basketball Game
Controversy and tense moments mark the Anchor's victory.
By: Nick Lima, Business Editor
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Sports
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The game, which was attended by more than 70 students and several alumni last Thursday night, March 20, on the center court at the Recreation Center, marked just the second time that WXIN Rhode Island College Radio and The Anchor have faced off in friendly competition in recent memory. The Anchor team, who in a narrow upset victory defeated WXIN 38-33 in a match last spring, took last week's contest by a final score of 47-37.
Since last year's Anchor victory, there has been much talk of a rematch from members of both organizations. According to WXIN General Manager and team captain Michael McKenna, an agreement on the logistics of the game was reached over one month ago between himself and Anchor captains Bob Kazarian and Kam Spaulding. As part of the conversation, both sides agreed that no current or former RIC Anchormen NCAA players could participate, regardless of their membership in either media organization. Additionally, rosters were swapped between each team prior to the game.
WXIN jumped out to an early lead when Rui Montilla scored a two-pointer on the game's first possession. The radio station's team, adorned in custom orange jerseys with their DJ names on the back, opened up a 4-0 lead on a shot made by McKenna, after which Anthony "Tony P." Pierlioni entered the game for The Anchor's Mike Aiello.
For McKenna and WXIN, this was a major turning point in the game.
"Tony's presence on the court paralyzed the XIN squad," McKenna said. "His entrance into the game killed our spirit and momentum. We couldn't get the ball down low."
Pierlioni, who was the tallest player on last year's Little East Champion Anchormen, is a 6'9" 245-pound staff comic artist for The Anchor, notable for working with the Mentally Thrill series that is printed weekly. According to WXIN, he was not on the roster submitted by the Anchor captains, and both sides had agreed that he would not be allowed to play prior to the game.
"We flat out said that we didn't want him to play," said Anchor captain and player-coach Kam Spaulding. "We had all agreed that it would be unfair if he played, and he was only supposed to referee."
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