Oct. 23, 2010

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KINGSTON, R.I. - Senior quarterback Steve Probst threw for a career-high 255 yards, but it was not enough as Rhode Island's fourth quarter rally fell one yard short as the Rams dropped a 28-23 decision to Maine Saturday afternoon at Meade Stadium.

Rhody had the ball with 1:17 to go in the game and one timeout. Probst marched the Rams down to the Maine one-yard line with one second to go in the game. The URI signal-caller was 6-of-9 on the drive, but URI was unable to find the endzone.

Probst completed passes to seven different receivers and accounted for a pair of touchdowns on the day. Nine of those passes went to junior Anthony Baskerville, who finished the contest with a game and career-high 100 yards.

Travis Hurd picked up from where he left off last week as he took the opening kickoff 49 yards to set up Rhody's first offensive possession. Eight plays later Rhody found itself in the endzone to take a 7-0 lead. Probst capped the drive with a two-yard run. Hurd finished the game with a career-high 70 yards rushing.

Maine fought back with a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 14-7 lead. The Black Bears first score came on the first play of the second quarter as quarterback Warren Smith found running back Pushaun Brown for a 45-yard touchdown pass.

The Black Bears re-claimed the lead on their next offensive possession as Smith rushed in from three-yards out, which capped a nine play, 58-yard drive.

Both teams were held scoreless for the remainder of the half as Maine took a 14-7 lead into the lockeroom. Rhody was outgained in 226-151 in the first half, but the Rams held a 90-45 advantage in rushing yards.

Rhody scored on its opening possession of the second half as kicker Louis Feinstein connected on a 24-yard field, but Maine responded with an 86-yard touchdown run by Terrel Walker.

The Rams fought right back with an eight play, 64-yard drive, which made the score 21-17 with 3:29 to go in the game. Freshman Ramadan Abdullah hauled in a 14-yard pass from Probst. URI's defense went on to stop Maine, which gave URI the ball back with 11:06 to go in the game.

Maine would then the collect game's only turnover as it picked off a pass thrown by Baskerville, which set up a first a goal situation for the Black Bears. One play later, Brown scored his second touchdown of the afternoon as he plunged in from a yard out.

URI would not quit as it marched 50 yards in four plays, cutting Maine's lead to 28-23.

Rhody returns to action next week as it travels to Towson. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.