Rhode Island Starters
Fatts Russell, Jeremy Sheppard, Antwan Walker, Jalen Carey, Makhi Mitchell
 
Arizona State Starters
Remy Martin, Alonzo Verge, Jr., Josh Christopher, Marcus Bagley, Jalen Graham
 
How it Happened
Rhode Island (0-1) rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit to take a lead late in the game, but the Rams eventually fell to No. 18 Arizona State, 94-88, in an intense season opener at the 2020 2K Empire Classic at Mohegan Sun Arena Wednesday.

Using its ability to get to the free throw line, the Sun Devils steadily built their 16-point lead in the first half. AUS was 13-of-18 at the line through the first 11:25, helping establish a 32-16 advantage. Remy Martin (11) and Marcus Bagley (10) combined for 21 points early to stake ASU to the lead.

Rhode Island was able to get the deficit down to single digits before the half as it held Arizona State to no field goals over the final 4:07 of the half. A 17-8 run over the final 5:35 got the Rams back within striking distance. After starting the game 3-for-9 at the line, Rhody hit seven straight from the stripe to end the half. D.J. Johnson had five of the makes to close out the half.

The Rams got the lead down to four points by the first media timeout of the second half. Fatts Russell scored Rhody's first seven points after the break to get the team going. A pair of Makhel Mitchell free throws made the score 57-53 just before the first timeout of the half.

With the Rams fighting, Antwan Walker put the team on his back, scoring 14 consecutive points. He hit a 3-pointer with 12:31 to go to give the Rams their first lead of the half, 67-64. After ASU tied it on a hoop-and-harm three-point play from Holland Woods, a Makhi Mitchell tip in put Rhody back in front, 69-67.

It was intense back-and-forth action with several lead changes. Jalen Carey hit a jumper to give Rhody an 85-84 lead with 4:49 to go, but Arizona State ended the game on a 9-4 run to hold off the Rams.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Senior Jeremy Sheppard reached double digits in his Rhode Island debut, finishing with 19 points. He hit his first four shots of the game, the first three of which came from beyond the arc. Overall he was 7-of-9 from the floor, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the arc.
• Sheppard's previous career high was 18 points against Tulane during his freshman season at ECU.
• Redshirt junior Antwan Walker scored a career-high 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting in his first start for the Rams. All but three of which came in the second half.
• Walker also had eight rebounds and a career-high three assists.
• Redshirt junior D.J. Johnson gave the team a big boost off the bench. In 18 minutes, he scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Johnson was a team-best +5 in the +/- category.
• Junior Malik Martin had nine points, as the Rhode Island bench provided 26 points overall.
• Despite playing the entire game with foul trouble, senior Fatts Russell had 12 points, six assists and four rebounds in 25 minutes. He had 10 points and four assists in the second half.
• Rhode Island was called for 17 first-half fouls. The Rams had 12 games last season in which they were called for 15 or fewer.
• Overall, there were 55 personal fouls called, leading to a combined 81 free throws. For the mathematically challenged, that is slightly more than two free throw attempts per minute for the entire game.
• Rhode Island was whistled 29 times. Last season, the most the Rams had called against them was 25.
• There were 31 personal fouls called in the first half. For the Rams, Fatts Russell (4), Jeremy Sheppard (3), Makhi Mitchell (3) and Makhel Mitchell (3) all got whistled at least three times before the break.
• Senior Jeremy Sheppard, redshirt sophomore Jalen Carey and sophomore Makhi Mitchell all started in their Rhode Island debuts.
• Also making their Ram debuts were redshirt junior D.J. Johnson, junior Malik Martin, sophomore Makhel Mitchell and freshman Ishmael Leggett.
• Junior Jermaine Harris missed the game after receiving an injection in his foot. It was the first game he has not started in his career, snapping a streak of 63 games.
• Preseason All-American Remy Martin had a game-high 26 points for Arizona State.

Up Next
Rhode Island will play Boston College in the consolation game of the Empire Classic. Game time is 7 p.m. Thursday, and the game will air on ESPN.