Jan. 9, 2008
Box Score
DAYTON, Ohio -- Jimmy Baron scored a game-high 26 points, while Will Daniels added 25 as #22/20 Rhode Island dropped a 92-83 decision at #17/22 Dayton at UD Arena.
Baron connected on 6-of-14 from the outside, while Daniels was 11-of-16 from the field to go along with six rebounds. It was the first time two URI players went for 25 points or more in the same game since Dec. 6, 2003, when Dustin Hellenga and Dawan Robinson each tallied 26 in an 89-79 win over Providence.
The loss - just Rhody's (14-2, 0-1 A-10) second of the season - snapped a nine-game winning streak dating back to Nov. 24.
"This is our league and these are the types of games you face night-in and night-out," said head coach Jim Baron. "Tonight was a matchup of two premier teams, two ranked teams going head-to-head. It was a heck of a game, but we just came up short in the end and you can trace that back to the defense."
The Flyers shot 74.1% from the floor during the first half, connecting on 20-of-27 from the floor - including 7-of-12 from the perimeter. UD led by nine points, at 25-16 with just under 12 minutes to play, the Rams used a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to cut it to two - 27-25 - with 8:33 remaining. But Dayton would continue its hot hand on the offensive end, building a 13-point lead at the break (54-41).
"We didn't do a good job on the defensive end tonight. We need to watch the film, see what we need to do better, and improve," said Daniels. "It all starts with our 'D.'"
In the second half, the home team extended its lead to as many as 14 points - at 61-47 with 15:55 left in regulation - but Rhody began to show its own brand of offensive output. Daniels and Baron combined for 11 of URI's 18 points over the next six and a half minutes, as the Rams cut it to three - 68-65 with 9:29 to go - after a Daniels jumper.
A Parfait Bitee 15-footer made it 73-70 with 6:30 left to play, but that would be as close as Rhody would get. Dayton pushed its lead back to seven before Daniels tallied six straight points, including a twisting layup and a dunk, cutting it to 82-78 with 1:31 to go. But a Dayton three with just under a minute remaining put the game out of reach.
"We're a resilient team, we don't back down or give up," Jimmy Baron said. "We have a lot of offense on this team. We just have to bring the same effort defensively."
Bitee added 15 points and five assists, helping the Rams to shoot 50.0% (32-64) from the floor and 38.5% (10-26) from the perimeter. URI was just 9-of-16 from the line (56.3%). Kahiem Seawright pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
Rhody returns to action on Sunday, when they host Duquesne at the Ryan Center at 2 p.m. Buy Tickets.
The game will be televised on Cox Sports Television, as Don Coyne and Abu Bakr call the action. Additionally, the game can also be heard live on radio, on WHJJ 920 AM and The Bridge 99.3 FM, with Steve McDonald and Don Kaull bringing you all the action. Additionally, the game can be heard live on the internet, via Yahoo! Sports. Log onto GoRhody.com and follow the audio/video links.
