Rhody Starters
Harris, Russell, Martin, Langevine, Dowtin

Massachusetts
Pipkins, Diallo, Baptiste, Pierre, Clergeot

How It Happened
Rhode Island (11-8, 4-3 Atlantic 10) could not match the energy of Massachusetts as it fell, 77-70 Sunday afternoon.

The Rams started hot, hitting five of their first eight field goal attempts. URI opened with a 12-4 lead six minutes into the game.

Massachusetts (8-12, 1-6 A-10) used a 17-0 run late in the first half to build a 13-point lead. Jonathan Laurent had seven consecutive points to key the Minuteman run. Rhody's Tyrese Martin broke the skid with a 3-pointer. That started a 7-0 run by the Rams to close out the half with UMass ahead, 31-25.

Rhode Island managed get within two points following a pair of Fatts Russell free throws with 11:37 to go, but UMass never gave up its lead. Riding the shooting of Carl Pierre (6-of-9 from 3-point range), the Minutemen extended their advantage to 12 points with 2:34 to go before coasting to their first league win.

Inside the Box Score

• Freshman Tyrese Martin led Rhode Island with a career-high 23 points. He was 8-for-11 from the floor, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range. Martin added three rebounds, three assists and three steals.
• Redshirt junior Christion Thompson gave a strong effort off the bench, scoring 12 points to go with four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 30 minutes.
• Junior Cyril Langevine had 15 points and seven rebounds.
• Junior Jeff Dowtin had 13 points, four assists and one steal. It was his 20th consecutive game in double figures.
• Freshman Omar Silverio provided a spark in the second half, hitting a 3-pointer and getting an assist in three minutes.
• Rhode Island turned the ball over 10 times in the first half and 17 times overall.
• UMass had a 36-26 edge on points in the paint.
• Rhode Island held Luwane Pipkins to 12 points on 2-of-14 shooting. He had one point in the first half. He entered the game at the Atlantic 10's second-leading scorer at 18.2 per game.
• Carl Pierre had 22 points for the Minutemen on 7-of-10 shooting, including 6-of-9 from the arc.

What's Next
Rhode Island stays on the road to play at Duquesne Wednesday, Jan. 30. Game time is 7 p.m.