Rhode Island Starters
Thomas, Lawrence, Farrell, Green, Brown

Detroit Mercy Starters
Lovejoy, Kuac, Lary, Kalambay, Nadeau

How it Happened 
Rhode Island made a season-high 13 3-pointers – including nine in the first half – as it defeated Detroit Mercy 81-75 Wednesday afternoon at the Jacksonville Classic.

Forward David Green and Jamarques Lawrence got things going early for the Rams (5-0), combining for five 3-pointers and 19 points in the first half. Green was limited by three first-half fouls, but guard Cam Estevez picked up where Green left off. Estevez drilled all four of his 3-point attempts and scored 12 first-half points as he helped Rhody withstand the play of Detroit Mercy guard Orlando Lovejoy.

Lovejoy scored 14 for the Titans (3-4) to keep them within striking distance. Rhode Island took a 46-34 edge into the half.

Lovejoy (28 points) continued to be effective getting into the paint. He found Emmanuel Kuac for a dunk that tied the score 60-60 with nine minutes remaining.

David Green scored the game's next five points, sparking a 10-4 Ram run that put URI in front, 70-64. Eventually Jamarques Lawrence hit a corner 3-pointer that gave Rhody a 75-68 lead. However, the Titans scored the next four points to make it a one-possession game with 37 seconds left.

Lawrence was fouled with 36.7 seconds on the clock and went 2-of-2 for a 77-72 lead. The defense forced a turnover on the next possession, and Sebastian Thomas was fouled on the in-bounds play. He made 2-of-2
 to push the lead to 79-72. After Legend Geeter sank a 3-pointer for the Titans, Thomas was fouled again and hit both free throws to ice the game.

Inside the Box Score Box

• Rhode Island finished the game 13-of-25 from the perimeter. The previous team high was 11 against Franklin Pierce.
• Guard Cam Estevez finished with a season-high 15 points, all of which came from the arc.
• Forward David Green had 20 points and eight rebounds. He had 11 in just eight minutes in the first half.
• Guard Sebastian Thomas just missed his second straight double-double, as he had 11 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
• Guard Jamarques Lawrence had 13 points, hitting 3-of-6 from long range.
• Guard Jaden House had eight points, three assists and two rebounds. All of his points came in the second half.
• Center Javonte Brown had nine points and six rebounds. He drew seven of the 22 fouls called on Detroit Mercy.
• Forward David Green – who hails from Apopka, Fla. had a couple dozen friends and family members on hand for the game.

Up Next
Rhode Island closes out its November competition with a game against UT Arlington Thursday. The game tips off at 2 p.m. to finish play at the Jacksonville Classic.