Dec 7, 2002
Box Score
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Brian Woodward's driving layup with 1:15 to play on
Saturday gave Rhode Island a 73-71 win over Providence, snapping the Rams'
four-game losing streak to their intrastate rivals.
Providence (3-2) had two more possessions after Woodward's basket, but
turned the ball over on the first one then Sheiku Kabba missed a layup with one
second to play.
Rhode Island (3-2) was led by Dustin Hellenga with 24 points and Woodward
with 17. Ryan Gomes had 24 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for Providence.
The Friars dominated early, sprinting to a 15-2 lead behind nine points from
Gomes. Hellenga had 15 first-half points to close the gap to 39-35 at halftime.
The Rams pulled ahead 40-39 in the first minute of the second half on a
3-pointer by Lazare Adingono.
Woodward, who scored 13 in the second half, extended the Rams' lead to 67-60
at 5:27 with a layup after a steal.
Providence tied the score at 71-71 on six points from Gomes and Donnie
McGrath's fifth 3-pointer.
The Friars' leading scorer, Maris Laksa, averaging 19.8 points coming into
the game, scored 13 points but was 0-for-6 from 3-point range.
It was the Rams first win over Providence since 1997, but the Friars still
hold a 63-50 lead in the rivalry that dates to 1920.
