Feb. 26, 2005

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - The University of Rhode Island men's basketball team handed Saint Joseph's (15-10, 12-2 Atlantic 10) just its second conference loss of the season with a 65-60 victory Saturday afternoon at the Ryan Center.

Junior Terrence Mack recorded his first double-double of the season leading the team with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the game shown nationally on ESPN. Senior Scott Hazelton added 14 points and junior J.R. Moore had 10 for the Rams (5-20, 3-11 Atlantic 10).

"They're very physical players," Rhode Island head coach Jim Baron said. "They were strong and aggressive and we got to the free-throw line."

St. Joseph's head coach Phil Martelli was impressed with Mack's play as well.

"I think this is a good style of play for him," Martelli said. "It's more blood and guts. He's found his niche in this system."

Rhode Island made 20 of its 24 free throws including four in the last 13 seconds that staved off a late St. Joe's surge.

The Rams pounded the ball inside all game long, outscoring the Hawks 28-16 in the paint. Mack and Moore took on 6-foot-10 Dave Mallon and 6-foot-11 Dwayne Jones, getting both in foul trouble in the first half.

"When you get the ball with Jones on you, you have to give him a little pump fake and see where his arms are," Mack said. "You can't go over him, so you have to go into him."

Moore said playing against guys like Mallon and Jones makes him better.

"I love playing against the best players on every team," he said. "It pumps me up."

Rhode Island trailed 29-27 at the half and 38-33 with 15:09 left in the game. The Rams then ran off eight-straight points and took the lead for good on a Mack three-pointer with 12:32 left to play, but Rhody had to hold off the Hawks in the final frantic minutes.

The Rams built their lead to nine points at 56-47 with 1:47, but three-pointers from Pat Carroll and Robert Ferguson closed the gap to 57-53 with 1:21 on the clock.

The Hawks got within three at 61-58 on another three by Carroll with 16 seconds to play, but the Rams clutch free-throw shooting kept the game out of reach.

Carroll led St. Joe's with 25 points and Chet Stachitas had 10, but no other Hawks were in double figures.

"We needed guys other than Chet Stachitas and Pat Carroll to come and play," Martelli said. "This game is a credit to the Rhode Island kids and a credit to this league. You know nobody is ever going to give you a night off."

After a number of tough games on the road in February, the win was refreshing for the entire team.

"We're feeling good," Mack said. "We felt like one of these games had to crack for us. We were coming so close and it finally did."

Rhode Island will finish out the regular season at home, hosting Temple on Wednesday night and then George Washington next Saturday afternoon in another game televised nationally on ESPN.