URI Beats Harvard 64-57, Next Up Rivalry Game Against PC at Dunk

URI Beats Harvard 64-57, Next Up Rivalry Game Against PC at Dunk

The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team beat the Ivy League’s Harvard University 64-57 on Wednesday on the road.

URI led by as many as 21 points and saw the lead shrink to just three in the second half.

The Rams are now 6-2 on the season and will next play at Dunk against the PC Friars on Saturday.

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Led by Malik Martin (11 points), Ishmael Leggett (9 points) and Makhel Mitchell (8 points), the Rams were 16-of-29 (55.2 percent) from the floor in the first half.

The defense, meanwhile, limited the Crimson (5-3) to 32.1 percent from the field, including 2-for-13 from the arc. The combination helped the Rams carry an 18-point lead (38-22) into the half.

The lead was pushed to as many as 21 points following a Mitchell jumper that put the Rams up, 48-27, with 16:36 to go. Harvard – which entered the game 15th in the country in 3-point shooting – began to get hot from deep. Four 3-pointers, including a pair from Louis Lesmond, sparked a 19-1 run for Harvard to make it a three-point game at 49-46 just under the nine-minute mark.

A pair of Antwan Walker jump shots started a 12-4 run for Rhode Island that pushed the lead back to 61-50 with two minutes left. While Harvard did not go quietly, the Rams kept the Crimson at an arm's length to record their second straight win.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

- Rhode Island's bench scored 24 points.
- Malik Martin finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds, three blocked shots, and one assist in 32 minutes off the bench.
- Guard Ishmael Leggett had 16 points, four rebounds and two assists. He helped seal the victory by hitting 7-of-8 at the free-throw line.
- Center Makhel Mitchell was the third Ram in double figures, scoring 13 points to go with seven rebounds, two steals and one block.
- Harvard shot just 8-for-33 from the 3-point range (24.2 percent). The Crimson entered the game shooting 41.7 percent from the arc.

 

NEXT GAME

The Rams play at in-state rival Providence on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will air on CBSSN.