March 10, 2003

Box Score

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) - Howard Smith's layup with 1.6 seconds remaining lifted Rhode Island to a 75-73 win over Duquesne in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

URI's Dustin Hellenga led all scorers with 24 points. Brian Woodward added 20 for the Rams (18-10, 10-6 Atlantic 10).

Kevin Forney led Duquesne (9-21, 4-12) with 14 points.

Rhode Island jumped out to an early 13-4 advantage and led by as many as 12 in the first half. But the Dukes battled back and tied it at 68-68 on a 3-pointer by Jimmy Tricco with 2:20 left in the game. Two foul shots by Bryant McAllister with 1:08 left gave Duquesne a 72-68 lead.

Hellenga scored on a drive through the lane with 56.2 seconds to play, pulling Rhode Island to within 72-70.

Duquesne had a chance to make it a two possession game with 28.5 seconds to play, but Simplice Njoya missed the second of two foul shots.

Woodward banked in a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to tie the game at 73-73.

Smith's buzzer-beater was his only basket of the game.

It was Rhode Island's first A-10 Tournament win since the Rams beat Temple in the 1999 conference championship game. Duquesne has not won in the A-10 Tournament since 1995.