Rhode Island holds off UMass late game surge for 88-82 win

Photo courtesy of URI athletics

From the tip-off to the final buzzer, Rhode Island’s final matchup with UMass in the Ryan Center as conference opponents delivered on all ends, resulting in an 88-82 triumph for the hosts.

In a game that snaked between a nail biter and a blowout, a Rhode Island lead that once stood at 21 points shrank to just two before the Rams pulled things away in the final moments.

The game was all Rhode Island out of the half, and after a back and forth affair in the first 20 minutes, Rhody capitalized on a dry streak from the Minutemen to open up the second half on a 13-0 run. However, after a technical foul from sophomore forward David Fuchs and a flagrant from sophomore guard Cam Estevez, the momentum flipped, giving UMass a chance to claw their way back.

“If you look at those two plays, that is probably a five to seven point swing right there, and that can’t happen, good teams don’t beat themselves that way,” said URI Head Coach Archie Miller.

The Rams almost did beat themselves that way, with a 12-5 run in favor of the visitors following the flagrant on Estevez. While the game got close after that, it never resulted in a lead change, which URI can thank their key contributors for down the stretch.

The Rams offensively seemed back to their usual selves, scoring in the 80s for the first time in two games, which boosted the Rams back into the win column after a pair of losses. Rhode Island is now 11-0 this season when scoring at least 81 points, signifying a new benchmark for scoring going forward.

“The guys that we are counting on to produce, produced much better tonight,” Miller said. “If you look at our team and you say, ‘how do you have five double-figure scorers in non-conference and you have one and a half in conference?’, we need some of those other guys… and I thought they played really well tonight.”

As per usual, senior guard Sebastian Thomas led the way for the Rams in scoring with 22 points, but a commune followed him in the form of scoring with senior forward David Green (18), senior guard Jaden House (19) and junior guard Jamarques Lawrence (13).

The undertone for the matchup all evening long though, regardless of scoring trends or high flying plays was the reality that this matchup would not be occurring nearly as much in the future.

It has been nearly a calendar year since UMass athletics announced their intention to move to the Mid-American conference after this academic year, and with that transition goes the games the teams have played against each other for the last 50 years straight.

However, in this instance it is see you later, rather than goodbye, put eloquently by URI sideline reporter Chris Ward on the ESPN+ broadcast that summarizes the transition better.

“This game makes too much sense for both schools, there’s too much history,” said UMass Head Coach Frank Martin. “But playing Rhody, [Rhode Island Athletic Director, Thorr Bjorn] is a UMass guy, he’d love to keep kicking our tails so he can brag, and I’ve got tremendous respect for Archie… The fierce competitiveness that was on that court today was pretty good.”

Martin also revealed that UMass would likely not play Rhode Island in the non-conference slate next season due to the adjustment calling for other priorities. However, that doesn’t mean the hiatus will last forever.

Rhode Island is back in action after their first break in conference play when they visit Fordham next Wednesday. The game tips-off from Rose Hill at 7:00 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+ with a radio broadcast available on the Varsity Network.