Ugly Loss for URI Rams at Last Place UMass

Ugly Loss for URI Rams at Last Place UMass

The URI Men's Basketball team was up early in the first-half against last place the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, but then the Minutemen took over the game.

UMass was ranked last in the Atlantic-10 and was on a seven-game losing streak.

In contrast, was 4-2 in the conference going into the game and 11-7 overall, but now all momentum has shifted after the Mass upset Sunday.

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URI opened with a 12-4 lead six minutes into the game.

Massachusetts which is  now 8-12, 1-6 A-10) used a 17-0 run late in the first half to build a 13-point lead. UMass’ Jonathan Laurent had seven consecutive points to key the Minuteman run. Rhody's Tyrese Martin broke the skid with a 3-pointer. That started a 7-0 run by the Rams to close out the half with UMass ahead, 31-25.

The second half was more of the same. Turnovers plagued the Rams — 17 in total to UMass’ ten.

The bright spots for the Rams were:

Freshman Tyrese Martin led Rhode Island with a career-high 23 points. He was 8-for-11 from the floor, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range. Martin added three rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Redshirt junior Christion Thompson  scored 12 points off the bench and had four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 30 minutes.

Next

Rhode Island is now 11-8, 4-3 in the Atlantic 10. Rhode Island stays on the road to play at Duquesne Wednesday, Jan. 30. Game time is 7 p.m.