Feb. 13, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA -- Will Daniels scored a team-high 26 points, leading four Rams in double-figures as Rhode Island (20-5, 6-4 A-10) dropped a 92-89 decision in overtime at Temple. Daniels was 11-for-20 from the floor, including 2-of-5 from the outside, to go along with five rebounds in 30 minutes of action.
Rhody got off to a fast start in the first half, tallying the first five points of the game. After a Temple bucket cut it to one - at 12-11 with 12:58 remaining in the period - the Rams rattled off a 14-5 run over the next five minutes, capped by a Delroy James floater in the lane. URI would lead 26-16 with just under eight minutes to go. A Joe Mbang put-back gave Rhode Island its largest lead of the game - 17 points - at 41-24 with a little over two minutes to play. The Rams would lead, 44-32 at the break.
Temple began the second half strong, outscoring Rhode Island 10-3 through the first two minutes of action. Up just five - at 47-42 - Rhody would respond with eight unanswered, capped by a Keith Cothran jumper making it 55-42 with just under 15 minutes left in regulation.
An Mbang dunk with 8:20 left gave the Rams their final double-digit lead of the game - at 63-53 - before Temple began to chip away down the stretch. The Owls used a 15-4 push over the next four minutes to cut it to one (69-68) and took their first lead of the ballgame with 1:18 left, at 76-74. But Daniels would respond, knocking down a jumper with just under a minute to play, tying the game at 76-76. Both teams had possessions to close out the half, but were unable to convert, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Temple tallied the first six points and built as much as a seven-point advantage before consecutive threes from Daniels and Parfait Bitee and another Daniels bucket tied it at 86-86. Another Bitee trey with seven seconds left cut the Rams' deficit to 90-89. After Rhody purposely fouled and Temple converted both free throws, URI had a chance to tie, but Jimmy Baron's fallaway three was off the mark.
Bitee added 17 points, on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor (4-5 3FG) in just 21 foul-plagued minutes. Cothran added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in the start, while Lamonte Ulmer added 10 points off the bench. Kahiem Seawright added 15 rebounds and six assists.
For the game, URI shot 47.8% (33-69) from the floor and 44.0% (11-25) from the outside. The Rams were 12-of-18 (66.7%) from the line and outrebounded the Owls, 43-35. They dished out 19 assists to 17 turnovers.
Next up for Rhode Island is a Monday night matchup against first-place Xavier at the Ryan Center. Tipoff time is set for 7 p.m. The game is also the second annual Pink Out, which will benefit the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.
The game will be televised live, with Jason Chandler and Pete Gillen calling the action. Fans can also tune into the action on radio, on WHJJ 920 AM and The Bridge 99.3 FM, with Steve McDonald and Don Kaull bringing 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.
