Nov 22, 2002

Box Score

BOSTON (AP) - Brian Woodward scored a career-high 26 points and shot 10-for-11 from the field Friday night as Rhode Island beat Northeastern 95-82 in the season opener for both teams.

Rhode Island (1-0) took control with a 23-8 run early in the second half, led by 15 points from Woodward, to break open a 40-40 game.

Northeastern (0-1) cut the lead to 63-60 with a 12-0 run midway through the second half, but Rhode Island quickly regained control as Lazare Adingono scored 10 points in a two-minute span that gave the Rams a 75-66 lead.

Terrence Mack's basket with 4:46 left pushed Rhode Island's lead to 84-70.

The Rams led by as many as nine, 38-29, in the first half before Northeastern tied the game on a layup by Jose Juan Barea just 1:15 into the second half.

Mack scored 15 points for the Rams, and Jamaal Wise added 14.

Junior college transfer Javorie Wilson, one of nine new players on Northeastern's roster, scored 25 points. Barea had 18 points and four assists.