Rhode Island Starters
Jeremy Sheppard, Ishmael Leggett, Makhi Mitchell, Makhel Mitchell, Ishmael El-Amin
 
Fordham Starters
Chuba Ohams, Darius Quisenberry, Kyle Rose, Antrell Charlton, Abdou Tsimbila
 
How it Happened 
Rhode Island dug itself too deep a hole in the first half, falling at Fordham 61-55 Wednesday night.

A sluggish start saw URI (12-8, 3-5 Atlantic 10) fall behind 16-7 nine minutes into the game, but a Jeremy Sheppard layup got Rhody back within six at 19-13. However, Fordham (9-11, 2-6 A-10) went on a 17-6 run over the final 6:54 of the period. Chuba Ohams – who had a double-double by halftime – scored five points during the run, helping the hosts go into the break ahead 36-19.

Rhode Island staged a furious comeback in the second half. A Kyle Rose 3-pointer put Fordham up by 18 at 46-28 with 13:19 to go. From there, Rhode Island went on a 20-2 run to tie the game. Jalen Carey scored five straight points and assisted on a Makhel Mitchell layup to give Rhody life, trimming the deficit to 11. Sebastian Thomas hit the first of his three second-half 3-pointers to get URI within single digits at 46-38.

Fordham scored to end the 10-0 run, but URI came right back with another run. Malik Martin and Carey sandwiched layups around a Thomas 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game. After Ohams missed three straight free throws (URI committed a lane violation on the first), Thomas drained another 3-pointer to knot the score 48-48 with 5:04 to go.

Looking to take its first lead of the night, Rhode Island could not capitalize on a Fordham turnover, and the teams traded empty possessions. Darius Quisenberry hit a 3-point shot, and Martin responded immediately with one of his own, tying the score again at 51-51 with 3:00 on the clock.

From there, Fordham closed the game on a 10-4 run. Ohams and Quisenberry hit back-to-back baskets to establish a four-point lead. Martin hit a pair of free throws to get URI back within two points. Abdou Tsimbila was left alone for a dunk underneath for Fordham. Antwan Walker scored on a tip-in rebound to again make it a two-point game at 57-55 with 1:03 left.

With the shot clock winding down, Quisenberry found Tsimbila for another basket. An offensive foul led to a URI turnover, and Antrell Charlton sank a pair of free throws with 27 seconds left to end the scoring and send URI to its fourth straight loss.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island's bench led the rally in the second half, scoring 27 of URI's 36 points.
• Jalen Carey had 12 points, Sebastian Thomas had a career-high nine and Malik Martin added seven.
• It was a breakthrough shooting performance for Thomas, who was 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Entering the game, he was 3-of-19 from long range.
• Center Makhel Mitchell just missed a double-double, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds.
• He also blocked four shots and had three steals.
• It is the 10th time this season he has had at least three blocks.
• In addition to his tip-in basket late, Antwan Walker had seven rebounds.
• Rhode Island struggled at the free throw line, hitting just 8-of-20.
• Fordham's Chuba Ohams had 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Darius Quisenberry was limited to 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting.

Up Next
Rhode Island is back in action Saturday when it hosts Massachusetts. Game time is 2 p.m. on ESPN+ is 7 p.m.