Dec. 28, 2000

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island overcame some hot first-half shooting by Siena to score an 81-77 come-from-behind win Thursday night.

Siena (6-4) made 9-of-13 3-point attempts in the first half, getting out to a 53-40 lead by intermission. In the second half, Siena hit just three of 15 3-point attempts.

"We guarded them better and limited their second shots," said Rhode Island coach Jerry DeGregorio. "We weren't trailing screens or getting in their face in the first half."

Rhode Island (4-8) began the second half with an 8-0 run to get back into the game, with Tavorris Bell scoring 4 of his game-high 23 points during the run. Bell also had 11 rebounds.

Rhode Island pulled within 58-56 with 15:27 to play in the second half on back-to-back 3-pointers by Dinno Daniels and Brian Woodward. A layup by Woodward that was set up by a steal and assist by Steve Mello, tied the game at 65-65 with 8:43 to play.

Rhode Island took its first lead since the 14:59 mark of the first half, 72-70, on a 3-pointer by Daniels with 5:01 left in the game. Bell made a layup, was fouled and converted the free throw with 4:25 to play to extend the Rhode Island lead to 75-70.

Siena had the ball with 30 seconds to play trailing 80-77 but could not get a shot off as Woodward came up with a steal with 14 seconds left.