Dec. 16, 2000

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) - Tavorris Bell scored 24 points to lead Rhode Island to an 80-67 comeback win over Northeastern on Saturday.

Rhode Island (3-7) trailed 64-55 with seven minutes left, but put the game away with a 25-3 run. Zach Marbury started the run with 3-pointer. A foul shot by Dinno Daniels with 3:36 to play gave Rhode Island the lead, 66-65.

"We stopped playing defense and took some bad shots, that's why we lost the game," said Northeastern coach Rudy Keeling.

Ricky Cranford led Northeastern with 17 points. Tyrone Hammick added 14 and Marcus Blossum had 11.

Rhode Island came into the game shooting 63 percent from the foul line, but hit 28-of-33 free throws (84.8 percent), which is the eighth best single-game performance in school history. Zach Marbury made 12-of-13 foul shots, and scored 21 points. Daniels scored 12 and Howard Smith added 11.

Following a Smith three-pointer which gave URI a 35-32 advantage, Northeastern scored the last five points of the first half to take a 37-35 lead.

A Bell basket with 3:55 to play in the first half capped a 14-6 run and that gave Rhode Island a 30-28 lead. Marbury hit nine foul shots in as many attempts during the run.