March 24, 2010
Box Score
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Delroy James led three Rams in double-figures as Rhode Island erased a 12-point second half deficit to beat #1 seeded Virginia Tech, 79-72, on Wednesday night at Cassell Coliseum.
With the victory - Rhody's 26th of the season - the Runnin' Rams advance to Madison Square Garden for the semifinals of the 2010 National Invitation Tournament. Rhody will face #4 seeded North Carolina on Tuesday, March 30. Tipoff time is scheduled for 9 p.m. at the World's Most Famous Arena.
James had a solid all-around performance, with 18 points, six rebounds, four blocked shots and two assists in 31 minutes of action. Lamonte Ulmer added 13 points, eight boards, and two steals, while Akeem Richmond came off the bench to add 13 points (3-6 3FG) and two assists.
Both teams had the hot hand offensively in the first half, as the Hokies connected on 63.0% of their shots from the floor. Rhody would connect on 51.6% of its field goal attempts, taking as much as a six-point lead (17-11) after an Ulmer trey with 12:58 to play in the period. Virginia Tech would gain a six-point lead of its own - at 36-30 with 4:05 left. But the Rams cut it to two at the break, scoring off a James tip-in off an out of bounds play with 0.7 seconds left. VT led 42-40 at the break.
The Hokies continued their hot hand in the second half, knocking down their first seven field goal attempts en route to building a 12-point advantage, at 60-48 with 14:43 to play.
From that point, Rhody took over. On offense, the Runnin' Rams scored 13 unanswered points, capped by an Ulmer slam. On the defensive side of the ball, URI held the Hokies to just 2-of-20 from the floor over the final 14 minutes.
Virginia Tech tied the game at 71-71 with 2:50 to go, but again went cold from the floor, as Rhody outscored the home team 10-3 to close out the game with the victory.
Will Martell added eight points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals, while Stevie Mejia had one of his finest games in a Rhody uniform - tallying seven points (7-8 FT) and six assists (zero turnovers). Orion Outerbridge added eight points in 10 minutes off the bench.
It marks the first time URI has advanced to the semifinal round of the NIT since the 1945-46 season. That year, URI legend Ernie Calverley hit the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" - a 62-footer which forced overtime against Bowling Green on March 14, 1946. Rhody would go onto win, 82-79, and down Muhlenberg, 59-49 in the semis, before falling to Kentucky, 46-45, in the championship game.
