Rams roll in first consecutive conference victories of season

Photo Courtesy of URI Athletics

The Rhode Island Rams got a 2-0 lead and never looked back on Saturday, earning an 86-71 win over the La Salle Explorers, marking a sweep of the week for the Rams.

“Good win for our team,” URI Head Coach Archie Miller said. “La Salle is a difficult team for us to play. And we worked very, very hard in the last couple days.” 

The win marks the first time this season that URI have notched back-to-back wins in conference play. It is the first time the team has had back-to-back victories since it defeated Central Connecticut State and Temple University on Dec. 15 and Dec. 21. 

“The back-to-back home, [it is a] big deal for this group finishing the right way,” Miller said. "The league is so difficult that winning at home is gold.” 

The first period of play opened with a URI 4-0 lead with baskets from senior guard Jaden House and center Javonte Brown. The pair led the way for Rhody until the final buzzer, with House scoring 16 points after notching a donut against St. Bonaventure on Wednesday. 

“I'm proud of [Jaden],” Miller said. “ He had a tough night on Wednesday. I didn't really like his body language, to be honest with you…I thought he had it going here a little bit today. I don't know what his line was, but he was good. House was House today.”

House agreed with his coach about his performance from Wednesday’s game, but also said he needed to do better for his team.

“[I] didn't play the best, didn't have the best mindset last game,” House said. “ And we still came out with a win, but I knew that I owe my teammates a better mindset and a better game today.”

Brown added 13 points and 10 rebounds as well with a little extra motivation in the crowd: his family. 

“It definitely did [give me some motivation],” Brown said. “I haven't seen family in a little while, cuz they're all the way back home in Toronto. But it was good to play in front of family again.”

Rams senior guard Sebastian Thomas also added 11 assists, along with 11 points, for a career high in facilitation and seventh most for a single game in program history. 

“He was like seven assists and one turnover in the second half,” Miller said. “In the first half, he had four turnovers. So him playing a floor game, that helps us as well.” 

Thomas’ 11 assists helped Rhody have six players in double-digit scoring, the first time the team has done that since a 105-73 victory over Division II school Franklin Pierce on Nov. 12, 2024. The win on Saturday moves URI’s record inside the Ryan Center to 13-2 in 2024-25, the most victories in Kingston since 2018-19 where they notched a 15-1 record at home. 

“The atmosphere this year has been crazy,” House said. “I feel like we just come in and just wanna put on a show for the fans. Whenever we let one down or we let one go here, it feels different, it does not feel good at all.”

The win makes Rhody 6-7 in conference play and 17-8 overall, the team’s highest win total since 2019-20. The Rams now get a week off before their next action, an away contest at Saint Louis. That game is on USA Network with tip off set for 2:30 p.m.