Dec. 22, 2010

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KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island sophomore Akeem Richmond scored a career-high 25 points to the lead the Rams to a 73-65 victory over Lafayette on Wednesday night at Ryan Center.

Richmond's 25 points came on 8-of-13 shooting, including seven makes from long range. Sophomore Nikola Malesevic (15) and senior Marquis Jones (14) also scored in double figures for the Rams while senior Delroy James contributed seven points, 10 rebounds, five assists three steals and two blocks.

As a team, URI held a 38-29 rebounding advantage and shot 46.2-percent (24-of-52) from the field.

Rhody (8-4) jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead just three minutes in thanks to some hot shooting from beyond the arc. Richmond and Malesevic combined to go 3-of-4 from three-point land to put Rhody out in front. However, Lafayette would quickly convert three straight attempts from the field to cut the lead to 10-8. Richmond then answered with another three-pointer to give Rhode Island a 13-8 lead with 14:25 remaining in the opening period.

The Leopards (4-8) would grab their first lead of the game (18-17) at the 9-minute mark as Ryan Willen hit a three and Jared Mintz converted a jumper. After falling behind by four points (26-22), Malesevic and Jones led the Rams on a 7-0 run to give URI a 29-26 advantage with three minutes left in the first half.

Lafayette quickly answered with a 9-2 push to close out the half as Tony Johnson converted a three-point attempt as time expired, sending the Leopards into the break with a 37-31 advantage.

Willen led all first-half scorers with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Richmond, meanwhile, paced the Rams with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range.

Richmond helped keep Rhody in the game early in second half as he converted on 2-of-3 attempts from long range to cut the Lafayette lead to just two (40-38) at the 15:10 mark. Minutes later, Richmond reclaimed the lead for the Rams as his sixth three-pointer of the game put UTI in front, 46-45, with 11:20 to go.

Rhody built its lead to 54-50 before Lafayette went on an 8-0 run to go back on top by five (58-54) with just under six minutes remaining.

URI hit eight three-pointers in the second frame and played shutdown defense over the final 5:49 to close out Lafayette on a 16-7 run and claim the 73-62 victory.

Willen netted a team-high 21 points for Lafayette while Jared Mintz narrowly missed a double-double as he recorded nine points and nine rebounds.

Rhody is back in action on Dec. 29th as it plays host to Boston College. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Ryan Center.