Nov. 19, 2006

Box Score

FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- Will Daniels registered his first double-double of the season, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, as Rhode Island outlasted Alaska-Fairbanks, 77-73, in the second round of the 2006 BP Top of the World Classic tonight in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Daniels was 8-for-11 from the field and 6-for-8 from the charity stripe. The 22 points are a season-high for the junior forward.

"Will played big for us tonight," head coach Jim Baron said. "We took advantage of his strength and physical play around the basket."

Rhode Island controlled the game during the first 20:00 of play, leading by as many as 16 points. The Rams took a 13-point advantage into the break, at 40-27. Joe Mbang and Kahiem Seawright each had nine points at the half.

But Alaska would heat up offensively, opening the second half on a 27-13 run, taking a 54-53 lead after a Kenny Barker layup with just under nine minutes to play in regulation. The Nanooks made their run thanks to some hot shooting from the perimeter in the second half, connecting on close to 70% from beyond the arc.

"We need to do a better job of getting out there and defending on the perimeter." Baron said. "It seems like every team we're running into is shooting the ball well."

Daniels and Seawright scored on back-to-back possessions to give Rhody a 57-54 lead, but Colin Matteson would connect from long-range, tying the game at 57-57 with 8:02 remaining. In all, there were 12 lead changes in the contest.

A traditional three-point play by Jon Lucky gave the Rams a four-point lead with 6:17 to go, but Alaska would not go away. A basket from Jushay Rockett gave UAF a 73-72 lead just under 2:00 to go. Daniels would tie the game after converting 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.

The Rams' defense forced Alaska into a turnover on a shot clock violation with 29.2 seconds remaining before Lucky would drive the baseline and lay it in to give URI the lead for good, at 75-73 with 18.4 seconds. Jimmy Baron would seal the victory with two foul shots with 0.5 seconds left on the clock.

"It was a very good victory for us and we're going to need to continue to win these games on the road." Baron explained. "We have a tough schedule ahead of us."

Seawright ended with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Lucky added 13 points, five rebounds and five assists. Mbang chipped in with 11 points. Lamonte Ulmer pulled down eight rebounds.

With the win, Rhody will face Centenary tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET.