Big Day for URI Athletics: Mega-Win and Heartbreak - Malachowski

Big Day for URI Athletics: Mega-Win and Heartbreak - Malachowski

Going into Saturday, the URI athletic program was riding high. The basketball Rams were undefeated at 8-0 which is the best season start since Frank Keaney was coaching almost 50 years ago. The football Rams were also amid a historic season, owning a share of the CAA conference title and ready to play in the second round of the Division 1 FCS playoffs. This is the first time in 40 years the URI football team has been in the playoffs.

 

Exciting Day

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The teams, the athletic program, and the University have been getting a lot of attention. With both the round ball and pigskin teams playing on Saturday, there was a lot of excitement surrounding the State’s University.

This was heightened because the basketball team was playing their big intrastate rival, Providence College, while the football team traveled to Georgia to play Mercer University.

 

Could both teams win?

Winning these games would push things to a level of enthusiasm never seen in my lifetime. Both teams were underdogs, with PC favored by 2 and Mercer favored by 10.5 points. With tip-off at noon and kick-off at 2:00 PM, Rhody fans could watch, stream, or listen to both games. URI scheduled a “Watch Party” for the football game in the Ryan Center immediately after the conclusion of the basketball game. Would victories by both teams be too much to ask?

Apparently, it was.

The basketball team pulled off an exciting come-from-behind victory over PC. After a poor first half, where they only scored 28 points and were down 7 at the half, Ram faithful were worried. The team was shooting poorly - 34% on field goals and only 2 of 10 on three-pointers; the offense was ineffective. Sebastian Thomas was struggling and seemed to lack his usual energy.

Strong second half

In the second half, the Rams looked like a different team. They picked up the pace, scored on the break and in the paint, and shot 52% from the field and 60% on threes. They outscored PC 41-28 in the second.  

The Rams were down 10 five minutes into the second half, tied the game at 48 with 9:10 left, and from there, the lead changed hands 5 times until Rhode Island took the lead for good inside five minutes.  Down the stretch, Thomas, who led all scorers with 19 points, stole the ball, went down the other end, and hit a rainbow three with 17 seconds left and the shot clock running out, and Bryce Hopkins quickly closing out to block the shot. When the ball swished through the net, it put Rhode Island up by 6, icing the game.

PC Strategy – going small, didn't work

It is often hard to ascertain and evaluate adjustments coaches make during games. One apparent strategy result was when PC took out their big man, put Hopkins at the five, and played small, URI took advantage. Against this defense, Miller had his team push the ball inside. At the two-minute mark with the Rams up two, David Green took advantage of the weak defensive interior, hitting shots in close on successive positions to widen the URI lead. It was a critical moment.

Stats

Scoring – PC player points

Hopkins 16
Joseph 16
Pierre 12

Scoring URI player points

Thomas  19
House 18
Green 12

Rebounds, URI 40, PC 35
Offensive rebounds, URI 14, PC 9
FG% PC 44%  URI 43%
3-point shooting

PC 5-20, 25%
URI 5-15, 33%

Free throws

PC 8-15 53%
URI 12-19 63%

The Rams move to 9-0 and play at Brown on Tuesday.

 

Football Team Comes up Short

The football Rams played a strong game but fell To Mercer 17-10 at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia, the home of the Bears. Mercer took a 7-3 halftime lead in a defensive struggle thanks to a pick-6 by Mercer’s Myles Redding. As the half was about to end, URI had a first down at the 7-yard line but had to settle for a field goal as time expired.

Second half scoring

 In the third quarter, the Rams grabbed the lead when quarterback Hunter Helms threw a deep ball to Marquis Buchanan for a 56-yard touchdown. That would complete the scoring for Rhode Island.

A four-yard pass gave Mercer the lead in the fourth quarter, 14-10. On the strength of its running game, Mercer had a sustained drive, resulting in a 24-yard field goal to complete the scoring.

Game stats

For Rhode Island, Helms went 22 of 33 passing for 266 yards, but the Rams only managed 46 yards on 26 carries on the ground.

Two Mercer running backs accounted for 195 yards rushing, with McGee gaining 114 yards on 21 carries and Miller gaining 81 yards on 10 carries.

 

Split Decision

Cashing in on the daily double did not happen for URI, but it was still a memorable day for the athletic program. With football stadium renovations being planned and the momentum of the playoff season, it will be interesting to see if URI football coach Jim Fleming can build off this historic season.

The basketball Rams are an interesting team. They are 9-0 but have played a weak schedule. They must wait now and see if the victory over PC will be considered a quality win. They will have their hands full on Tuesday night at Brown, who have beaten them in each of the past two years.