Rhode Island basketball is off to best start in 77 years. Here’s how they won Monday

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SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Frank Keaney was the University of Rhode Island men’s basketball coach the last time a season started like this.

Strength of schedule, you say? The Rams dismantled Charleston in a visit to the Ryan Center and followed Monday night with a second victory over a program that reached the NCAA Tournament last year.

Yale pushed for the full 40 minutes, but URI took command midway through the second half and executed at both ends down the stretch. The Rams also held their nerve at the foul line to post an 84-78 triumph, one that clinched the program’s best opening mark since 1947-48.

More: Rhode Island basketball cracks Top 60 in first NET ratings of season. What about PC?

Keaney jumped out 9-0 in what proved to be his swansong, retiring with 401 victories and places waiting in multiple Halls of Fame. URI won’t be building a statue for Archie Miller just yet, but this is certainly his best team to date in his third season at Kingston. The Rams stunned the Bulldogs in a 76-72 home win last year – they were short favorites entering this rematch and flashed the required grit when needed.

“Tonight was a fantastic win,” Miller said. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of our guys. The quality of the opponent – we have so much respect.”

Sebastian Thomas was cold-blooded at the stripe late to cap a milestone night that saw him reach 1,000 career points. The former Bishop Hendricken star piled up 18 of his 20 points and four of his six assists over the final 20 minutes, closing 10-for-10 at the line. His twin pairs of makes with 27.8 and 18.4 seconds left helped guide URI to the wire.

“It takes a full game to get going,” Thomas said. “Everything isn’t going to be my night. You just stay with it.”

David Green helped keep the Rams afloat long enough to mount a surge into the lead. His 3-pointer with 9:49 left knotted the game at 56-56, and URI turned on the jets from there. Thomas found Jamarques Lawrence and David Fuchs for conventional three-point…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rhode-island-basketball-off-best-122858756.html

Author : The Providence Journal

Publish date : 2024-12-03 12:28:00

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