Rhode Island Starters
Dowtin, Russell, Langevine, Harris, Martin

Brown Starters
Anderson, Howard, Hunsaker, Choh, DeWolf

How it Happened
Rhode Island found itself in a 17-point hole in the second half and couldn't recover, falling 85-75 to Brown on Thursday night.

Brown hit three straight 3-pointers to get on top 19-13 at the 11:24 mark of the first half. Rhody then used a 10-5 run, including back-to-back treys from Jermaine Harris and Antwan Walker to get within one (24-23) with just under eight minutes remaining. A Fatts Russell fast break layup gave the Rams a 32-31 lead with three minutes left, but Brown closed out the half on a 7-0 run and held Rhode Island to 1-of-10 from the floor over the final 4:41 of the half to go into the locker room up 38-32.

The Rams (8-4) started the second on a 8-0 run to get a 40-38 lead. A strong Rhody defense held Brown to 0-of-4 from the floor for the first four minutes of the half, as the Bears first field goal fell at the 15:57 mark. Brown (6-6) used a 10-2 run to get on top 58-45, and got its biggest lead (63-46) after a 3-pointer by Zach Hunsaker.

The Rams gained momentum backed by Russell, who scored 10 straight points for the Rams to get within five (69-64). But Brown wouldn't go away, as Hunsaker sunk yet another 3-pointer, followed by a Brandon Anderson trey, putting the Bears up 75-64 with 3:26 left.

The Rams scored on a dunk by Antwan Walker and two good free throws by Jeff Dowtin to make it 79-72. But it wasn't enough as Brown connected on all six of their free throws in the final minute for the 85-75 final.

Inside the Box Score

• Junior Fatts Russell had a game-high 25 points in 33 minutes before fouling out. He added five assists and three steals.
• Senior Cyril Langevine finished with 12 points on 6-of-8 from the floor. He added nine rebounds, for 794 career boards. He passed former teammate Hassan Martin (786 from 2013-17) with his third rebound of the night, for sixth place in program history.
• Jeff Dowtin was the third Ram in double figures, scoring 10. All of the senior's points came in the second half. Dowtin had four assists.
• Sophomore Jermaine Harris tallied his third-straight double digit point performance finishing with 10.
• Brown was hot from 3-point range shot selection. After going 8-of-20 in the first, the Bears were 5-of-8 in the second. Things were just the opposite for Rhode Island, who shot 3-of-7 in the first and went 1-of-10 in the second.
• Brown held the advantage in rebounds (45-36) and bench points (25-9).
• Rhody owned the paint, outscoring the Bears 48-28.
• Brown's Zach Hunsaker entered Thursday's game shooting 24.4 percent from 3. Tonight, the senior was 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.

What's Next
The Rams open conference play against Richmond on Sunday, Jan. 5 at 12:00 p.m. The game will air locally on Cox YurView and will stream on ESPN+.