URI Scores Big Rivalry Win Over PC, Move to 9-0

URI Scores Big Rivalry Win Over PC, Move to 9-0

The University of Rhode Island defeated Providence College men's basketball team 69-63, in an intrastate game Saturday at the Ryan Center in Kingston.

The Rams are now 9-0 on the season.

The Rams were led by Sebastian Thomas’ 19 points and 4 assists — he dominated the game in the second half.

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Jaden House added 18 for URI — 14 in the first half.

And, David Fuchs scored 9 points, grabbed 7 rebound, had 3 steals and 2 blocks for Rhode Island.

The Friars fall to 6-4 mark on the season. PC was led by Seniors Bensley Joseph (Arlington, Mass.) and Bryce Hopkins spearheaded the Providence offense with 16 points each. Hopkins led the team with eight rebounds, while Joseph paced the Friars with three assists. 

The key to the game was an adjustment by URI coach Archie Miller at halftime that shifted the Rams into a motion offense that allowed the Ram guards to get the Friar defenders on their hips. The Rams took advantage.

 

FIRST HALF: 

• The Rams jumped out to a four-point lead to start the game. Jayden Pierre responded for the Friars with a three-pointer from the top of the key that cut the deficit to one (17:04), 4-3.  

• Christ Essandoko (Clichy, France) scored a layup in the paint to give PC its first lead of the game, 5-4. Wesley Cardet Jr. (Tallahassee, Fla.) silenced the Rams with an emphatic dunk that capped off the team's 7-0 run and sent the game into its first media timeout (15:38). Friars led, 7-4.  

• Both teams went back-and-forth over the next five minutes.  

• At the under-8 timeout (6:43), the Friars led 28-21.  

• The Friars began to pull away as they scored five unanswered points. By the final media timeout of the half (3:28), the Friars led by 10, 33-23.  

• The Rams scored a quick field goal coming out of the timeout. Oswin Erhunmwunse quickly ensued with an ally-oop dunk off a pass from Pierre, 35-25.  

• The Friars led 35-28 entering halftime.  

• The Rams struggled offensively as they missed their final four field goal attempts and converted only two of their final 12. 

• Providence endured a scoring drought over the last 2:55 minutes of the half. 

• The Friars outrebounded the Rams in total rebounds (22-18) including defensive rebounds (18-13).  

• Providence shot 14-30 (46.7%) from the field, 4-10 (40.0%) from three, and 3-5 (60.0%) from the free-throw line.  

• Rhode Island shot 11-32 (34.4%) from the field, 2-10 (20.0%) from three and 4-6 (66.7%) from the free throw line.  

 

SECOND HALF:  

• Rhode Island started the half with three points. Bensley Joseph opened the PC's scoring with a three (18:37).  

• The Friars entered an almost three-minute scoring drought that allowed the Rams to chip away at the lead. With 16:11 remaining, URI's Sebastian Thomas scored a layup to cut the deficit to three which prompted a Providence timeout. The Friars led, 38-35. 

• Coming out of the first media timeout (15:57), Joseph converted a layup off a URI turnover to extend PC's lead back to five 40-35. 

• Bryce Hopkins caught fire as he added six points to maintain the Friars' lead and secure his place in double figure scoring. 

• The Rams continued to battle and chip away at the lead. At the 12:20 mark, David Fuchs capped a 7-0 run with a layup that brought Rhode Island within one point, 46-45. The basket marked the Rams' third straight field goal and their fifth successful attempt in their last seven shots. 

• Exiting the under-12 media timeout, the Friars regained their composure as they held the Rams scoreless for over two minutes and denied them on six consecutive field goal attempts. 

• With 9:20 on the clock, the Rams tied the score at 48.  

• Cardet Jr. swiftly restored a two-point lead for the Friars by sinking two free throws. 

• The Rams responded with a jumper to reclaim lead for the first time since the opening two minutes of the game.  

• At the under-8 timeout (7:50), the Friars trailed by one, 50-49.  

• Both teams went back-and-forth as they exchanged the lead two times in the span of 50 seconds.   

 • The Rams began to pull away with a 6-0 run. At the media timeout (4:25), the Friars trailed 60-55. 

• Pierre and Hopkins gained momentum with back-to-back dunks to bring the score within one, 60-59. The Rams called a timeout with 2:50 remaining.  

• URI scored two baskets to take a three-point lead, 64-61 with 1:54 on the clock.  

• With 24 seconds to go, the Rams took a six-point lead.  

• The Rams were able to edge out the Friars for the remainder of the game. Friars fell, 69-63.  

 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Providence finished 25-57 (43.9%) from the field, 5-20 (25.0%) from three and 8-15 (53.3%) from the free throw line.  

• Rhode Island finished 26-61 (42.6%) from the field, 5-15 (33.3%) from three and 12-19 (63.2%) from the free throw line.   

• Three Friars scored in double figures: Hopkins (16), Bensley Joseph (16), and Jayden Pierre (12).  

 

NOTES 

• Attendance: 7, 685 

• The Friars now hold a 77-57 mark all-time versus URI. 

• The Friars have now posted an 8-3 mark in the last 11 games versus URI.