Dec. 2, 2009

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. -- Junior guard Marquis Jones' half court shot at the buzzer rimmed out as Rhode Island dropped an82-80 decision at VCU at the Verizon Wireless Center on Wednesday night.

Junior center Will Martell scored a team-high 18 points and was one of five URI players, who scored in double figures. Martell connected on 7-of-12 shots from the field. Martell's 18 points tied a career-high.

Senior guard Keith Cothran, senior forward Lamonte Ulmer, junior forward Delroy James and sophomore guard Jamal Wilson also chipped in as they finished with 16, 11, 10 and 10 points, respectively.

James and Ulmer also pulled down seven rebounds apiece to pace the team.

VCU outshot Rhody 58-53% from the field, but URI held a 36-22 advantage on the glass. Rhody had 17 assists as a team, 10 of those helpers came Jones, which marked a career-high.

Rhody forced VCU into five turnovers and jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the opening 5:30. VCU charged back to tie the game at 14 with 12:59 to go in the first half.

VCU took just its second lead of the game with 5:57 to go in the first half. The Rams held the lead until James hit a 3-pointer to give the Rams a 40-37, but VCU tied the game on the following possession and both teams went into the locker room tied at 40.

Rhody went on a 8-4 run to start the second half and held a 48-44 lead with 17:16 to go in the game. Three minutes later, VCU reclaimed the lead at 55-53 and then increased its lead to 64-57 with 11:06 remaining.

URI fought back to tie the game at 72 with just under seven minutes to go, but that was last time the two teams would be tied for the remainder of the game despite VCU being held scoreless for the final 1:36.

Rhody returns to action on Saturday as it welcomes in-state rival Providence to the Ryan Center. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. The game can be heard live on the Beltone New England Rams Radio Network on B101 (101.5 FM), with Steve McDonald and Don Kaull. The Cox pre-game show will begin at 12:30 p.m.