Nov. 9, 2007

Photo Gallery | Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. -- Jimmy Baron scored a career-high 30 points and the Rams used a 30-10 run midway through the second half to pull away from Florida Atlantic, 90-63, in the 2007-08 regular season opener for both teams.

Baron was 11-for-18 from the floor, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added four assists and three steals in 29 minutes of action.

FAU got out to a quick start, scoring the game's first six points. The Owls would lead by as many as seven points, at 15-8, with 13:27 left in the first half. But a 7-2 Rhody run, capped by a Joe Mbang three, made it a two point ballgame (17-15, 11:34 left).

Baron's jumper with 8:04 left put URI up 26-25 and gave the home team the lead for good. The Rams would lead 40-35 at the break.

"A lot of our offense comes from our defense, and we only played one half of it tonight," said Jimmy Baron. "I had some good looks tonight and my teammates did a great job setting me up. But with our team, anyone on any given night can do it."

The two teams traded baskets to start the second frame, with Rhode Island holding onto an eight-point edge - at 55-47 - with just over 14 minutes in regulation.

After two Mbang free throws, Lamonte Ulmer and Keith Cothran brought the Ryan Center crowd of 4610 to its feet with back-to-back dunks off of steals. before Rhody began its run, putting the game out of reach. Cothran would score 11 of his 17 points during that key run. The sophomore guard tied his career-high of 17 points (8-13 FG), while adding four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 27 minutes.

"Coach said to be aggressive, go out and play, and find the open man." Cothran explained.

Mbang had 12 points and six rebounds off the bench, while Parfait Bitee had eight points and tied his career-best of seven assists. Will Daniels and Kahiem Seawright spent much of the game in foul trouble. Daniels contributed seven points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

"Florida Atlantic is a tough, physical team. They played aggressive inside tonight and we have to do a better job of containing that," head coach Jim Baron said. "But our bench was the key tonight. Guys like Keith Cothran, Lamonte Ulmer, and Joe Mbang picked up the slack tonight. We'll need that from our bench if we're going to have the kind of successful season we're hoping for."

For the game, Rhody shot 51.5% (35-68) from the floor, including 35.0% from the perimeter (7-20). They shot 13-of-21 from the charity stripe (61.9%) and tied FAU in the battle of the boards, with 36. Rhody had 22 assists on its 35 baskets, and committed 15 turnovers.

The Rams return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 14 when they travel to Providence to face Brown at the Pizzitola Center.