Rhode Island Starters
Jeremy Sheppard, Ishmael Leggett, Makhi Mitchell, Makhel Mitchell, Ishmael El-Amin
 
Bryant Starters
Erickson Bans, Adham Eleeda, Tyler Brelsford, Charles Pride, Hall Elisias
 
How it Happened 
A suffocating second-half defense and dominant performance in the paint by the front court led Rhode Island (2-0) to an 83-64 win over in-state rival Bryant in the first game of the Sunshine Slam Friday night.

Bryant (1-1) led by as many as six in the second half following a pair of Charles Pride free throws made the score 44-38. After a Pride 3-pointer made the score 49-46, Rhode Island forced the Bulldogs to miss 15 consecutive field goal attempts. The Rams went on a 24-4 run over the next 8:10, with seven different players scoring for Rhody during the run.

 With Bryant pressured into quick shots, the Mitchell twins controlled the boards. Makhi Mitchell had 18 rebounds and Makhel added seven boards to help the Rams to a 55-31 edge on the glass.

Rhode Island outscored the Bulldogs by 25 points over the final 15:10 to cruise to its second win of the season.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island held Bryant to 26.1 percent from the floor (18-of-69), including 30.8 percent from 3-point range (12-of-39). The Rams clamped down in the second half, holding Bryant to 7-of-31 shooting, and 3-of-14 from deep.
• The Rams had double-digit blocks for the second straight contest, finishing with 12. Center Makhel Mitchell had five blocks, while Antwan Walker and Malik Martin both had two.
• Makhi Mitchell's 18 rebounds were the most by any Ram since Kuran Iverson had 23 at Richmond on Jan. 26, 2017.
• Mahki Mitchell and Makhel Mitchell combined for 30 points and 25 rebounds. Makhel had a team-high 17 points and seven boards, while Makhi Mitchell had a double-double with 13 and 18.
• Ishmael Leggett had 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal. He was 2-for-3 from the arc.
• Jeremy Sheppard gave Rhody a fourth double-digit scorer, finishing with 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
• Antwan Walker just missed a double-double, getting nine points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench.
• Malik Martin had nine points, five rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes off the bench.
• Sebastian Thomas chipped in with seven and one block in 18 minutes off the bech, as the URI reserves gave the team a 25-15 in bench scoring.
• URI outscored Bryant 42-12 in the paint.

Up Next
Rhode Island returns to the Ryan Center Wednesday, Nov. 17 when it hosts Boston College. Tip time is 6 p.m. for the contest, which will air on CBSSN.