Rhode Island Starters
Habib, Mbu, Syla, Gray, Vital

Manhattan Starters
Davis, Muhl, Juric, Garcia, Mulderig

How it Happened
Rhode Island battled through a cold shooting stretch in the third quarter to win its season opener at Manhattan Monday, 56-38.

Both teams struggled early, combining to start 0-for-15 from the floor. After shaking off the rust, Rhody got on the board first with a 3-pointer from Palmire Mbu, then added two more from long range to build a 9-4 lead. A Brooklyn Gray triple capped the quarter, giving the Rams a 14-4 advantage after one.

The scoring continued in the second, as Rhode Island extended its lead to 20 by halftime (32-12). A stifling Rhody defense held the Jaspers to just 17.9 percent shooting in the first half.

After the break, the Rams' offense went ice cold, managing only one field goal and four points in the third. Manhattan closed the gap to seven, 36-29, scoring 11 of its 14 third-quarter points from the free-throw line.

That was as close as the Jaspers would get, however. Rhode Island closed the game on a 10-2 run in the final four minutes to secure the win.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island had two players collect double-doubles, led by sophomore Palmire Mbu's 12-point, 14-rebound performance. Mbu added five blocks.
• Sophomore Albina Syla turned in her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. She made her first career start in the win.
• Senior Brooklyn Gray made her Rhode Island debut and added nine points, three rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal.
• Senior Ines Debroise scored 11 points, including 2-for-2 from long range, and added four assists off the bench.
• Freshman Vanessa Harris made her collegiate debut and added five points and five steals.
• Graduate transfer Valentina Ojeda scored six points off the bench in her Rhody debut. 
• The Rams won their season opener for the third straight year.
• Rhode Island scored 19 points off of 14 Manhattan turnovers. 
• Rhody's bench outscored the Jaspers 22-6.