Nov. 1, 2007

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. -- Will Daniels scored 31 points, leading four players in double-figures, as Rhode Island downed Stonehill, 107-69, in an exhibition matchup at the Ryan Center tonight.

Rhody used a second-half surge to pull away from Stonehill, outscoring the Skyhawks 61-29 in the final 20:00 of play. The Rams shot 77.1% (27-35) during the frame, including knocking down 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.

URI started off strong, racing out to a 16-7 lead less than five minutes into the action. Daniels had seven of those points. Later on, after a Daniels free throw made it an 11-point lead - at 29-18 with 8:17 to play - Stonehill went on a 9-0 run over the next 2:48, to cut the Rhode Island lead to just two points - 29-27, with 5:29 left. Rhode Island would lead, 46-40, at the half.

"We had a little talk at the half, to put it nicely," Daniels said. "We have a good non-conference schedule and a tough conference stretch, so we need to take care of things before the season starts."

Classmate Parfait Bitee had a similar view. "We had a real lack of energy in the start. We needed to talk more on defense. In the second half, we made our adjustments and did what we had to do."

The Skyhawks hung tough through the opening moments of the second half, cutting the Rhody lead to just three points - 52-49, with just over 15 minutes in regulation. But Rhode Island would begin a 27-2 run over the next seven minutes, putting the game out of reach.

"Stonehill is a good team. They drive, they kick, they shoot the ball well. They're a team that causes problems," said head coach Jim Baron. "I thought in the first half, we didn't contest nearly as well as we should have. In the second half, we did. But we'll watch the film, evaluate our performance. I think it will show that we have to move our feet and communicate better."

Daniels was 11-for-14 from the floor, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the perimeter. He also added nine rebounds in 29 minutes of action. Baron tallied 21 points, on 9-of-16 shooting (3-8 3FG), also in 29 minutes of action. Bitee tallied a double-double, with 14 points (6-8 FG, 2-3 3FG) and 11 assists. Lamonte Ulmer added 12 points (6-9 FG), five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 24 minutes off the bench.

For the game, Rhody shot 66.7% from the floor (44-66), including 12-of-19 from beyond the arc (63.2%). They outrebounded Stonehill, 36-19, and dished out 22 assists to just nine turnovers.

Rhode Island returns to action on Monday, Nov. 5 when they take on Concordia (Que.) in the second of two preseason exhibition tuneups. Gametime at the Ryan Center is set for 7 p.m.

URI opens up play in the 2007-08 regular season on Friday, Nov. 9 when they host Florida Atlantic at the Ryan Center at 7 p.m. The game - part of the Glenn Wilkes Classic tournament - is the second part of a Ryan Center doubleheader. Head coach Tom Garrick's women's basketball team takes on Sacred Heart Fans can purchase tickets for this and every other game at the Ryan Center box office, or by clicking on the individual ticket page.