Feb. 18, 2009

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. -- Keith Cothran poured in a career-high 26 points as Rhode Island won , 71-59, at Massachusetts on Wednesday night,

The win - Rhody's (19-8, 8-4 A-10) first in Amherst since the 2003-04 season - was the Rams' third straight and seventh in their last eight games.

The Rams started the game slow offensively, trailing 15-5 just under six minutes into the ballgame. UMass would build as much as a 12-point lead - at 31-19 with 5:01 to play in the half. But Rhode Island would close the half strong.

A Stevie Mejia 3-pointer with just over a minute to play in the half capped a 9-0 run, as URI headed into the locker room trailing 31-28 at the break.

In the second half, both teams traded baskets before Lamonte Ulmer connected on 1-of-2 from the foul line, for the first tie of the ballgame - at 35-35 with 15:38 left in regulation. After a Cothran layup with 13:26 to go tied it at 37-37, another Ulmer free throw gave Rhody its first lead of the contest - 38-37 - with 12:44 to play.

UMass would mount a comeback, going on a 10-3 run over the next 3:04, taking a 47-41 lead with 9:40 to go. But URI would go on a 16-6 push itself over the next 5:11 of the contest, thanks to seven points from Cothran during the stretch.

The Minutemen would again rally, tying the game at 57-57 with 2:56 to play. But Rhody would close out the game on a 14-2 run, knocking down 6-of-6 from the charity stripe to seal the victory.

Cothran was 11-of-17 from the floor - including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He added an assist, a blocked shot and three steals in 29 minutes off the bench for the Rams. Will Martell added nine points and eight board, while Delroy James contributed eight points in reserve action.

Rhode Island returns to action in search of its second consecutive 20-win campaign on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Fordham. Game time in the Bronx is set for 1 p.m.