Nov. 19, 2010

Box Score

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Delroy James and Will Martell each registered a double-double as Rhode Island earned a 75-66 victory over College of Charleston in the first game of the Toledo subregional of the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer.

James poured in team-highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Martell scored 11 points while also pulling down 12 boards. Nikola Malesevic added 17 points off the bench.

The two teams were matched evenly on the offensive end to start the game. Tied at 9-9 at the 14:03 mark, the Runnin' Rams (2-1) would score eight unanswered, thanks to 3-pointers from Ben Eaves and Malesevic and a driving layup from Marquis Jones. Rhody would lead 19-11 with 10:51 to play in the half.

The Cougars (2-2) would respond with an 11-2 push over the next 3:08, capped by a Jeremy Simmons jumper which made it 22-21 with 7:43 left. Rhody would chip away at the lead and ended the half on a deep 2-pointer by Akeem Richmond, making it 29-25 at the break. Ryan Brooks led URI with a career-high 10 points in the first half.

In the second half, Rhody would not trail thanks to the play of James and Malesevic. The duo shouldered the scoring load, combining for 31 of Rhody's 46 points. A James layup gave URI a nine-point advantage (36-27) with 18:22 to play, but C of C would not go away easily.

The Cougars cut it to three - 58-55 - with 7:04 to play after a deep Andrew Goudelock 3-pointer. But eight unanswered - including four from Martell and capped by a James layup gave Rhody its largest lead - at 66-55 with 4:38 to go.

Rhody would hold off the Cougars down the stretch, sealing the victory by knocking down 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.

The Runnin' Rams will face host Toledo tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in the second of three games in the 2K Sports Classic. Steve McDonald and Don Kaull will provide the radio call on the Beltone Hearing Aid Centers Rams Radio Network on B101 (101.5 FM).