March 1, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA -- Jimmy Baron scored a team-high 18 points, while Kahiem Seawright added 16 at Rhode Island earned a 91-85 victory at La Salle on Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Rams (21-9, 7-8 A-10).

Baron connected on 5-of-8 attempts from the perimeter, while also dishing out three assists in the victory. Five Rhody players registered double-figures in the scoring column.

La Salle began the game by hitting its first seven shots from the floor, taking an 18-10 lead just five and a half minutes into the contest. But Rhode Island would respond with eight straight points over the next three minutes, capped by a Keith Cothran breakaway layup off a pass from Lamonte Ulmer.

Again, the Explorers would respond with a hot hand - going on a 9-2 push and taking a 29-22 advantage with just under 10 minutes to play in the period. But a 12-4 Rhody run, keyed by nine points from Cothran, put URI up for good, at 34-33 with six minutes left. The Rams would build as much as a five-point lead before taking a 44-43 lead into the break. URI shot 57.6% (19-33) from the floor in the first half, while La Salle connected on 53.8% (14-26) of its attempts from the field.

In the second half, the Rams continued their hot hand offensively, while playing stingy defense down the stretch. Baron, Daniels and Joe Mbang each connected from long-range, en route to a 13-5 push to start the second frame. The two teams traded baskets before back-to-back treys by Baron put Rhody up nine - 70-61 - with just under nine minutes to play. The Explorers would surge back, cutting the Rams lead to just one - at 75-74 with 5:32 remaining. But the Rams' defensive efforts held La Salle to just 1-of-9 shooting down the stretch. Bitee's breakaway layup with 11 ticks remaining and three Baron free throws sealed the victory - Rhody's 21st of the year.

Seawright scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half, knocking down 7-of-12 from the floor, to go along with five assists, five rebounds and four blocks. Daniels (five assists; three blocks) and Cothran (five assists) each had 15, while Bitee - playing 28 minutes despite suffering from the flu - added 11 points and three assists.

For the game, Rhody connected on 60.0% (36-60) of its shots from the floor, including 9-of-17 from the perimeter (52.9%). The Rams were outrebounded, 35-31, and dished out 20 assists to their 36 field goals.

URI returns to action in its final home game of the 2007-08 regular season, when it hosts Charlotte at the Ryan Center at 7 p.m. on March 8. It marks the final home game for Joe Mbang, Parfait Bitee, and Will Daniels. The senior trio will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.

For tickets, visit the Ryan Center box office or log onto ticketmaster.com.