Nov. 3, 2008

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KINGSTON, R.I. -- Delroy James led four players in double-figures as Rhode Island cruised to a 123-84 victory over Concordia (Que.) in the first of two preseason exhibition tilts.

James shot 11-of-16 from the floor and was active on the glass (six rebounds) and on the defensive end (three steals).

It was the junior forward who began the scoring on the evening, going baseline for a two-handed dunk. Rhode Island employed a full-court press right from the start, and forced some early Concordia turnovers. The Rams' defense forced 13 miscues in the first half.

After a Sebastian Martin layup made it a one-point game (25-24, 10:49), the Rams rattled off nine unanswered points - four from James and five from Jimmy Baron - making it 34-24 with just under nine minutes left in the half.

Another 9-0 run, capped by a Marquis Jones lay-in, made it a 19-point advantage for URI with 6:10 remaining in the period. Rhody built as much as a 25-point lead in the period, going up 65-40 at the break as freshman Jamal Wilson drilled a deep three at the buzzer.

In the second half, Rhode Island kept attacking on both ends of the floor. A Kahiem Seawright bucket with 14:59 left in regulation gave the home team a 30-point lead, at 78-48. Concordia would get as close as 20 points - at 84-64 with 11:35 to go. URI's largest lead of the night - 39 points - came at the final buzzer.

Jimmy Baron and Keith Cothran each finished with 20 points, while Kahiem Seawright added 15. Ben Eaves - in his first action for the Rams - added 11 points and six boards off the bench.

"The guys have been working hard for this type of scenario," said head coach Jim Baron. "We have athleticism that we've never had here before. We have depth. We've just added on to what we started two years ago."

For the game, the Rams shot 54.5% (48-88), including 7-of-22 from beyond the arc. They outrebounded Concordia, 54-37.

The Rams closes out its 2008-09 preseason schedule on Friday, Nov. 7 when it hosts Rhode Island College at the Thomas M. Ryan Center. Game time is set for 7 p.m.