University of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Starters
Deniusas, Fontenet, Hinton, Tripp, Williamson

Holy Cross Starters
Haigh, Hanson, Hare, Richard, Wilson

How it Happened
Behind a strong shooting performance, Rhode Island opened the 2026-27 season with a 103-59 win over Holy Cross on Tuesday night at the Ryan Center. The Rams connected on 55 percent (37-of-67) of their field goal attempts leading to the blowout win. 

Rhode Island (1-0) opened the game on a 18-8 run over Holy Cross (0-1). Jonah Hinton led the initial charge for the Rams connecting on a trifecta of three-pointer efforts and adding a steal and score. Hinton had four of Rhode Island's first five made field goals within the game's opening seven minutes. 

The Rams used a 19-0 burst midway through the first half to take a 29-point lead and never looked back. Led by a pressuring defensive effort, the Rams held the Crusaders without a point for over five minutes of play. The run was capped off by back-to-back scoring efforts from Jalen Harper. Harper first drilled a corner three and then picked off a Holy Cross pass and dunked it home on the offensive end. 

With seconds remaining in the first half, Rhode Island took it a 58-27 lead when true freshman guard Jaen Chatman stepped around a Holy Cross defender and kissed a left-side lay-up off the window. It was Chatman's first basket of his college career. 

The Rams further distanced themselves in the second half. Barrett Loer's made three-pointer with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half, pushed Rhode Island's lead to 38 points. To processions later, off a Jahmere Tripp steal, Loer dunked home a fast break bucket to further widen the gap. 

Rhode Island kept the pace through the entirety of the game. Tim Martin, Jr.'s dunk inside the game's final 90 seconds pushed Rhode Island's lead to 48; it's largest of the night. 

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island won the points in paint battle 44-26. 
• Rhode Island's bench outscored the Crusader bench 38-23.
• The Rams had 16 points on 16 Holy Cross turnovers.
• Rhode Island outpaced Holy Cross 18-3 in fast break points.
• The Rams had eight steals.
• Jonah Hinton had a game-high 24 points on 73 percent (8-of-11) shooting from the field. He shot 67 percent (6-of-9) from three.
• He added one assist and two steals.
• Jalen Harper had a career-high 11 points with two rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal.
• Jason Fontenet II scored 11 points with six rebounds and six assists.
• Dylan Williamson added eight points, four assists, and three rebounds.
• Jahmere Tripp contributed nine points, four rebounds, and two steals.
• Jason Fontenet II, Dylan Williamson, Matas Deniusas, Jaen Chatman, Steven Sherman, Nedas Raupelis, Javon Perry, and Tim Martin II all made their first appearances at Rhode Island.
• Chatman, Martin II, Perry, and Raupelis all scored their first career collegiate points. 
• Nedas Raupelis added nine points, five rebounds, and one assist.
• Jaen Chapman contributed six points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

Up Next
Rhode Island plays Monmouth at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. on Saturday, Nov. 7. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.