By Jake Brown
GoRhody.com Staff
 
Rhode Island Starters
Samb, Freeman, Leggett, Martin, Bilau
 
Providence Starters
Hopkins, Croswell, Bynum, Locke, Carter
 
How it Happened
Rhode Island struggled defensively as it fell to in-state rival Providence 88-74 in front of a sellout crowd Saturday night.
 
Though Rhode Island (2-6) took better care of the basketball in general, Providence (6-3) made the most of the turnovers it did create. The Friars outscored the Rams 17-2 in points off turnovers, despite URI committing a season-low 11 miscues. Much of that advantage came in the closing minutes of the first half, as PC turned a 23-22 Rhody advantage into a 43-27 edge in the final 6:19.

Both teams came out clicking to begin the second half, though the first four baskets by the Friars came on layups. Providence had significant success in the paint, scoring 52 points close to the basket. Much of that came on second-chance scoring, where PC turned 12 offensive boards into a 22-6 edge in the paint.

Rhode Island was more efficient offensively, but it was never able to get the score back to single digits, as the Friars won at the Ryan Center for the first time since 2015.

Inside the Box Score

• Both teams struggled from the perimeter. Rhode Island shot 33 percent (4-of-12) from the arc, while the Friars shot 30 percent (6-of-20).
• There were nine lead changes and one tie in the game, all of which came in the opening 14 minutes.
• Redshirt sophomore Josaphat Bilau had his best offensive game as a Ram, scoring a team-high 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He was 2-for-2 from deep and added five rebounds and a block.
• Sophomore Brayon Freeman finished with 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals.
• Redshirt freshman Abdou Samb provided 14 points on an efficient 6-of-7 on the game. He added four rebounds and a block.
• Sophomore Sebastian Thomas was the lead assist man for the Rams, as he dished out five to go with four points, three rebounds, and two steals in the defeat.
• Sophomore Ishmael Leggett finished with 10 points. This was Leggett's ninth straight game with 10 or more points.
• Redshirt freshman Brandon Weston contributed four points, three rebounds, and two assists.

What's Next
Rhode Island is back in the Ryan Center when it hosts another in-state rival, Brown, on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The game is part of a two-game date with the URI women's team, which hosts Hartford for Education Day at 11 a.m.