LaSalle Rallies To Top URI 72-65

LaSalle Rallies To Top URI 72-65

For more than half of their game against LaSalle Sunday, the Rhody Rams looked like they belonged on the floor with one of the top teams in the Atlantic Ten.  However, a 30-12 run midway through the second half helped the Explorers pull away from Rhode Island for a 72-65 win.

URI led 30-27 at halftime and 37-30 less than 2 minutes into the second half.  That's when LaSalle kicked things into high gear.

Led by Tyreek Duren who scored 10 of his game-high 21 points on that run, the Explorers exploded and siezed control of the game.

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Rhode Island was led once again by Xavier Munford's 18 points.  Nikola Malesevic and Mik Aaman each added 15.  Malesevic was one rebound shy of a double-double.

The Rams played the game without freshman forward Jordan Hare who was suspended by head coach Dan Hurley for a "violation of team rules."  Hare was in uniform and on the bench but was not allowed to enter the game.  

The loss dropped Rhody's record to (8-18, 3-10 A-10) while LaSalle improved to (19-7, 9-4).  While still mathematically alive, the Rams chances of making it into the top 12 of the conference standings for a spot at the A-10 Tournament in Brooklyn next month have pretty much vanished.  Their only hope would be to win their remaining three games at Temple, at St. Joe's and home against UMass and have St. Joe's lose their remaining four games at St. Louis, home against Fordham, home against URI and at Charlotte.

The A-10 Tournament begins March 14th at the Barclay's Center.