Jan. 5, 2010

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio -- Lamonte Ulmer recorded game-highs of 20 points and 11 rebounds and Delroy James added 19 points, eight rebounds and five blocks as Rhode Island earned a 68-63 victory at Akron.

The win extended Rhody's win streak to eight games, as the Runnin' Rams close out the non-conference slate with a 12-1 mark.

Defense was the name of the game, as the Rams held the Zips (10-4) to just two points and one field goal through the first five minutes of the game. A Will Martell layup gave URI a 9-2 lead early on. Akron showed strong defense of its own during a 22-5 run, capped by a traditional three-point play which made it 28-19 with 4:23 left in the period. The Zips would lead 36-29 at the break.

Four free throws from Ulmer to start the second half helped Rhode Island cut it to three - at 38-35 - with 18:11 to play. But Akron would respond with a 10-4 push over the next 3:30, going back up nine - 48-39 - with 14:35 to go in regulation.

Rhody began to chip away at the Zips lead, forcing four turnovers over the next 6:00 of play, paced by 11 points from James during the span. A 3-pointer in the deep left corner by James tied the ballgame at 52-52 with 9:21 to go, capping the 13-4 run.

The two teams traded baskets - and the lead over the next 5:14, before another deep trey from James at the 4:07 mark gave URI the lead for good at 60-58. The Rams hit four free throws - two by Ulmer, two by Marquis Jones - to seal the victory in the final seconds.

Keith Cothran added 12 points and five rebounds, while Jones had six points, three boards, three assists and five steals in the victory. Will Martell also added six rebounds. As a team, Rhode Island blocked seven shots while notching 11 steals.

Rhode Island returns to action at home on Sunday, when it hosts #25/25 Temple at the Thomas M. Ryan Center at 1 p.m. The game will be televised live locally on Cox Sports Television, with Eric Frede and Abu Bakr providing the call. The game can also be heard live on the Beltone New England Rams Radio Network, with Steve McDonald and Don Kaull, beginning with the Cox pre-game show at 1:30 p.m.

The game is also URI's annual NCAA Men's Basketball Take A Kid to the Game day. Area youth (ages 12 and under) are invited to attend this special event and receive a discounted ticket ($12 in the lower level or $8 in the upper level - regularly priced at $16/$13) with the purchase of a full-priced adult ticket. Youth will have the opportunity to experience the college game-day atmosphere and some exciting action as the Rams take on their A-10 rival Owls.

URI is hosting one of more than 700 games that will be played across the nation as part of the Take A Kid to the Game (TAKG) program in its 13th season. The project is a grass roots initiative that attracts the nation's youth and encourages adults to take kids to area college basketball games.