Jan. 17, 2007
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KINGSTON, R.I. -- For the second straight game, Rhode Island's bench provided an offensive spark as the Rams picked up an 89-78 win over St. Bonaventure tonight at the Ryan Center. The win improves URI's overall record to 10-8, including a 4-1 mark in Atlantic 10 play.
The Rams led 9-6 less than four minutes into the game, before St. Bonaventure went on a 9-0 run to take a 15-9 lead with 13:18 remaining. But Rhody would come back with an offensive flurry, going on a 27-8 run, capped by a fastbreak layup by Parfait Bitee, to take a 35-23 lead with 4:18 left.
The Bonnies got within seven, but the Rams took a double-digit advantage into the locker room thanks to a Keith Cothran trey at the end of the half.
"I was worried coming into tonight, after an emotional win at Saint Joseph's, that we would have problems with a scrappy St. Bonaventure team." said head coach Jim Baron. "We kept attacking the basket and scoring, despite having Will Daniels in foul trouble much of the half."
Rhody scored 45 points - its second-highest first half total of the season - thanks to 51.4% shooting from the field. But that total came without Daniels - the team's leading scorer - tallying a single point.
In the second half, the Rams offense continued to shine. Thanks to two Baron treys and two Bitee buckets, Rhode Island opened the half on a 10-0 run to go up, 55-34, with 17:36 left. URI held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
"Again, our bench stepped up and gave us a real boost tonight." Coach Baron explained. "It's essential to our offense keeping its tempo. Keith (Cothran), Lamonte (Ulmer), Terence (Grier) and Joe (Mbang) come in and play aggressive."
For the game, six players - including all five starters - scored in double figures, led by Jimmy Baron and Joe Mbang who tallied 19 points apiece. Baron was 7-for-13 from the floor, including 4-for-7 from the perimeter, while Mbang was 8-for-10 from the field, including 2-of-3 from the perimeter and a rim-rattling dunk late in the second half.
"I think they might need to check the screws on the basket after that one." Jimmy Baron joked. "It's great for us to have that spark off the bench. The deep bench gives us momentum."
"I have to give credit to my teammates." Mbang said. "Jimmy and Parfait keep telling me to use my body, get inside, and take advantage. My teammates gave me some good looks and I was able to finish." The junior forward added five rebounds in 24 minutes of action.
Bitee had 12 points, while Darrell Harris had 11. Kahiem Seawright and Will Daniels added 10 points each for the Rams, who shot 54.8% from the floor for the game. URI was outrebounded, 34-31, and dished out 16 assists to just 10 turnovers. Keith Cothran led the team with a career-best seven assists.
"Keith is not afraid to pass the ball and guys know it's coming." the head coach explained. "I'd love to play with a guy like Keith. He really opens up the floor. We need to continue to share the basketball - I thought our 16 assists was a very important stat. And just 10 turnovers. Last game at St. Joe's we had 11. Limiting our turnovers simply gives us more chances to score.""
The Rams return to action on Saturday afternoon, when they travel to Philadelphia to take on Temple at 2 p.m.
Notes: The Rams improved to 8-0 on the season when shooting better than 50% from the floor...Kahiem Seawright had his 13th game with seven or more rebounds tonight - the sophomore power forward grabbed eight boards (4 off./4 def.)...Rhody also improves to 7-1 on the season when committing 12 or fewer turnovers. Tonight, the team had just 10...Junior Jamael Lynch tallied a point from the free throw line late in the contest...Rhody is 4-1 in Atlantic 10 play for the second straight season...URI outscored St. Bona, 42-32 in the paint, 21-8 in second-chance points, and 27-9 in bench points.
