How It Happened
Houston outscored the Rams by 10 in the second half and 15-9 over the final 4:33 of the game to seal the 82-77 win.

In a game that featured six ties and 13 lead changes, Rhode Island jumped out to an 11-2 lead less than 4:00 into the game.  The Rams led the entire first half, shooting 46.2% from the floor during the first 20:00 of action.  An offensive board and put back by Cyril Langevine with 11 seconds put the Rams up, 42-35, but a tip-in at the buzzer by the Cougars made it 42-37 at the break.

After a Kuran Iverson jumper to start the second half made it 44-37, Houston began an 11-2 run.  A Rob Gray 3-pointer with 15:38 to play gave the Cougars their first lead of the game.  There were five lead changes and two ties over the next three-plus minutes as both teams traded baskets.

E.C. Matthews tied the game at 62-62 with a layup with 7:19 to play but Houston rattled off five unanswered, taking a 67-62 lead with 6:25 to go.  Rhody rallied back and after Stanford Robinson converted a traditional three-point play with 4:33 left in regulation, URI led 68-67.

UH went on a 6-0 push over the next 2:33, putting the game out of reach.  The Cougars led by as many as eight - 80-72 - down the stretch.
                                
Inside the Box Score

• E.C. Matthews led all scorers with a season-high 31 points.  The 6-5 guard was 12-of-23 from the floor and 6-of-12 from beyond the arc.  He added five rebounds in 32 minutes of play.
• Cyril Langevine continued to shine as he made his second collegiate start.  The 6-8 forward registered his first career double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.  
• Langevine was 8-of-11 from the foul line while tallying two assists, two blocked shots and two steals in 27 minutes.
• After missing much of the first half due to foul trouble, Kuran Iverson added 10 points, seven boards, two assists and three blocked shots.
• Jarvis Garrett added eight points and four assists while Jared Terrell had nine points, three boards, and two assists.
• Rhody's bench tallied nine points - six for Stanford Robinson and three for Jeff Dowtin.
• As a team, the Rams connected on 44.1% from the floor and 36.0% from the perimeter (9-25).  Rhody converted 16-of-23 from the foul line.  
• URI outrebounded Houston, 37-34, including holding a 15-10 edge on the offensive glass.
• Houston went 26-for-31 from the foul line, attempting eight more free throws over the 40 minutes of action.  A combined 43 fouls were whistled (URI 25; UH 18).

Stat of the Game, pt. I
16 - Rhode Island scored 16 second-chance points on 15 offensive boards.  Cyril Langevine corralled a team-high four offensive rebounds while Kuran Iverson had three.

Stat of the Game, pt. II
2 - Today's game was the second time E.C. Matthews scored 30 or more points.  His previous 30-point game was a 32-point affair vs. Duquesne Feb. 15, 2014.

What's Next
Rhody returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 18 when it hosts Holy Cross at 12:30 p.m. at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.

The Rhody Sports Network will also carry this - and every game - live on B101 (101.5 FM), with Steve McDonald and Don Kaull.