Rhode Island Starters
Samb, Thomas, Leggett, Martin, Tchikou

Texas State Starters
Dawson, Morgan, Davis, Martin, Harrell

How It Happened
A second-half rally was not enough as Rhode Island dropped its second straight game, falling 70-66 to Texas State Saturday evening.

After falling behind by as many as 11 points early in the second half, the Rams (0-2) began to chip away at the deficit. A 5-0 run that featured an Alex Tchikou second-chance basket and a Rory Stewart layup off a feed from Tchikou got URI within 46-42, and Ishmael Leggett's free throw shooting helped close the gap further. At one point he made five in a row at the line to get URI within one points at 52-51 with 7:46 to go.

After a Mason Harrell free throw for Texas State, Jalen Carey hit a runner in the lane to tie the score, 53-53 with 6:26 to go. From there, the score was tied five more times over the next 4:12, as the teams traded baskets. Rhody managed to take its first lead of the night when Carey fed Malik Martin for a fastbreak layup to make the score 61-59 with 3:30 to go.

From there, Texas State (2-1) rode the hot hand of point guard Mason Harrell (26 points). After a Nate Martin basket tied the score for the visiting Bobcats, Harrell scored a transition basket off of a URI turnover. Rhody responded with a Sebastian Thomas layup, but Harrell again had a layup off a turnover to put his team up 65-63. After Alex Tchikou made 1-of-2 at the free thrown line for the Rams, Harrell made a tough jumper to make it a 67-64 lead.

Rhode Island kept battling, as Abdou Samb scored off an offensive rebound to make it a one-point game. However, Harrell was fouled and sent to the line with 18 seconds left. He made both shots to get the lead back to three points, and Rhode Island was unable to respond on its final possession.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island was just 6-of-23 from the field in the first half. The offense improved in the second half, as URI was 12-of-21 from the floor (57.1 percent).
• The Rams were much better at the free throw line than in the opener, finishing 29-of-35 as a team.
• Guard Ishmael Leggett matched his career high with 21 points. He was 14-of-15 at the free throw line.
• Leggett added five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals.
• Forward Alex Tchikou made his first career start and had eight points and eight rebounds. The big man was 6-of-8 at the free throw line.
• Forward Abdou Samb had 14 points and seven rebounds. He was efficient, hitting 6-of-9 from the floor.
• Turnovers were an issue for Rhode Island. The Rams committed 22, which led to 29 points for Texas State.
• By comparison, Rhode Island scored 12 points off 16 Bobcat turnovers.
• Rhode Island had a 34-25 edge on the boards.

Up Next
The Rams return to the Ryan Center on Tuesday, Nov. 15 when they host Stony Brook at 7 p.m.