Rhody Starters
Harris, Russell, Martin, Langevine, Dowtin 

Providence Starters
Duke, Diallo, Pipkins, Young, Holt

How it Happened
Fatts Russell and Cyril Langevine combined for 41 points to lead Rhode Island to a 75-61 win over Providence in front of the second-largest crowd in Ryan Center history Friday night. Russell finished with 24 points - his seventh straight game with 20+ - and Langevine had 17 points and 16 rebounds for Rhode Island (6-3).

The visiting Friars (5-5) jumped out to a 10-4 lead behind six early points from Kalif Young. Rhode Island's stout defense forced eight turnovers before the under-eight minute media timeout to cut the deficit to one. Mekhi Long stole the ball and took it to the other end for a big slam apart of a 12-0 run to make it 34-24. Cyril Langevine had six points during that run. URI finished the half leading 38-29 with 18 points off of 13 PC turnovers. 

Throughout the second half, the two teams went back and forth. The Friars cut the deficit to under five on multiple occasions and URI continued to fend them off. Providence cut the lead to as few as two 57-55 with 6:45 remaining. Rhode Island leaned on Russell, who came into the game ranked 24th in the NCAA with 21.1 points per game. The junior hit three clutch 3-pointers down the stretch apart of a 13-0 Rhode Island run to secure another pivotal non-conference victory. 

Inside the Box Score

• Senior Cyril Langevine has his 26th career double-double by halftime. He finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds.
• Junior Fatts Russell continued to lead the Rams offense, scoring 24 points. He now has seven straight games with 20+ points. The Philadelphia native was 4-of-5 from behind the three-point arc
• Russell tied his career-high in assists with eight.
• Senior Jeff Dowtin reached 400 career assists, dishing out two. He is only the sixth player in URI history to reach that mark.
• Freshman Mekhi Long had the best game of his young URI career, recording career-high's in points (9), rebounds (7), steals (4), blocks (2), and minutes (22).
• Rhode Island forced Providence into 22 total turnovers
• URI has now won two of the last three meetings against its in-state opponent.
• Friday was the second-largest crowd in Ryan Center history, 8,052. The largest was against Pittsburgh in 2002.

What's Next
Rhode Island will have a break due to final exams. Its next contest will be Dec. 21 at home vs. the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at 2:00 p.m.