Rhode Island Starters
Montgomery, Kortright, House, Brown, Fuchs

Fairfield Starters (0-2)
Goodine, Floyd, Rogan, Bleechmore, Smith

How it Happened
Rhode Island (2-0) downed Fairfield 93-80 for its second win in four days at the Ryan Center Thursday night. The first career double-double for freshman David Fuchs and an explosive first half from Jaden House sparked the victory.

House sparked the offense out of the gate, putting up 18 points in less than 10 minutes to put the Rams on top 22-10 with 11:37 to go in the half. Fairfield (0-2) cut the deficit down to seven at one point, trailing 22-15 with 10:43 to go, but it was closest they got in the opening period. Rhody used a 27-9 run to close out the half and carry a 25-point lead into the break. The spurt began when Cam Estevez sank a 3-pointer for the first points of his collegiate career. At the break, URI had a 49-24 advantage.  

The second half was chippy, with 12 fouls called in the first five minutes of play. Though the Rams were slower to get going offensively, going four minutes without a field goal, House eventually broke the streak with a basket to put Rhody up 61-33 with 14:31 to go. 

URI kept the pressure on and, in turn, held Fairfield without any points from the floor for its own three-minute stint. David Fuchs went 2-for-2 on a trip to the charity stripe that put the home team up by 30 with 10 minutes left. 

The Rams eventually earned a lead that was as large as 30 points before working in different rotations. Fairfield took advantage of some mismatches to close the deficit down to almost 10 with a 14-1 run but Rhode Island held on for the win. 

Inside the Box Score

• David Fuchs recorded his first collegiate double-double, racking up 15 points to go along with his 11 boards.
• Fuchs added four assists and three steals.
• Jaden House led the team in scoring with 22 points and was one of five Rams to reach double-digits. Fuchs, Jeremy Foumena (14), Zek Montgomery (11) and Cam Estevez (10) also achieved the feat. 
• House is the first Ram to open a season with back-to-back 20-point games since Jamal Wilson had 38 against George Mason and 24 at Texas to begin the 2011-12 season.
• Both Estevez and Foumena recorded career-highs in points. Foumena's previous mark was six from the season-opener against Central Connecticut. 
• Fuchs and Tyson Brown had a team-best three steals apiece.  
• The Rams had a 24-5 advantage in second-chance points over the Stags. 
• The 174 points that URI has scored in its first two games are the most since putting up 191 in 2016-17. That season, the Rams defeated Dartmouth 84-61 (Nov. 11) before rolling Marist, 107-65 (Nov. 14). 

Up Next
Rhode Island will be back in action next week with another home game on Tuesday, Nov. 14 against Wagner. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the action will be streamed on ESPN+.