Rhode Island Starters
Cochran, Corey, Crawford, Hinton, Itejere
Stonehill Starters
Sunderland, Batchelder, Koffi, Tutic, Espinal-Guzman
How it Happened
Rhode Island (2-1) used its defense to get back on track, steadily pulling away from Stonehill for an 80-57 victory Tuesday night. Led by a record-setting performance by Tyler Cochran - who had nine steals - URI scored 30 points off 21 Skyhawk turnovers.
The game began as a rock fight with Stonehill (1-2) up 8-7 nearly eight minutes in. The Rams had four turnovers in the opening minutes before settling down.
Rhode Island's defense began to assert itself, using four turnovers to spark a 13-0 run. Six different Rams scored during the run as Jonah Hinton hit a layup, RJ Johnson drained a 3-pointer, Mouhamed Sow hit a layup off a turnover, Jahmere Tripp got a fastbreak dunk off a steal, Damone King got a fastbreak layup off a steal and Keeyan Itejere made a basket in the paint.
The Rams kept the pressure on, holding Stonehill to 6-29 (20.7 percent) from the field in the first 20 minutes. This allowed Rhody to build an 18-point lead by halftime behind nine points from Hinton and seven from Tripp.
A sluggish offensive start to the second half for Rhode Island allowed Stonehill to claw back into the game. Hermann Koffi sank a 3-pointer to pull the Skyhawks within 12 at 52-40 midway through the half.
Rhody scored four straight points at the free throw line, getting two each from Tyler Cochran and RJ Johnson. That started a 8-2 run that pushed the lead back to 18 points. The end result was never threatened from there as the defense prevented any more Stonehill runs.
Inside the Box Score
- Rhode Island had a 30-11 edge in points off turnovers.
- The Rams did a good job of getting to the basket, scoring 44 points in the paint. It is the second time in three games Rhody has had 44 points in the paint.
- URI outscored Stonehill 22-12 on the fastbreak.
- Tyler Cochran scored 16 points, recorded a program-record nine steals and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
- The previous program record for steals was eight by Fatts Russell against Saint Louis on March 1, 2020.
- RJ Johnson had 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting off the bench.
- Jonah Hinton had 16 points and six rebounds.
- Jahmere Tripp was the fourth Ram in double digits with 11 points to go with three steals.
- The defense had 17 steals, tying the sixth most in program history. URI has 16 or more twice in the first three games. Before this season, Rhode Island had 16 or more steals in a game nine times.
Up Next
Rhode Island hosts UAlbany Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network.
