URI Holds On For 59-56 Win Over La Salle
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URI Holds On For 59-56 Win Over La Salle
See the five takeaways slideshow below.
URI held a 41-26 lead early in the second half before La Salle went on a big run and got themselves within one point, 53-52, with five minutes left in the game. URI led 55-54 with three minutes to go when E.C. Matthews made three straight free throws to put them up 58-54.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Rams could not make a field goal the rest of the way but neither could La Salle. URI's T.J. Buchanan would add one more free throw, and URI would grind out the 59-56 win over La Salle.
URI was led by E.C Matthews, who netted 21 points, while T.J. Buchanan followed up with 12 points off the bench.
La Salle was led by Jerrell Wright, who poured in a game high 23 points, while Steve Zack added 13 for the Explorers.
The Rams return to action on Tuesday, March 3 when they visit Dayton in the biggest game of the season as they battle for first place in the A-10. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
For a further look at the URI win, see the five takeaways slideshow below.
Five Takeaways From URI's 59-56 Win Over La Salle
Hassan Martin
A bit of an off night for Hassan Martin netting only seven points and pulling down four rebounds. Martin's seven points came on 3-of-5 shooting from the field and 1-of-2 from the free throw line in 25 minutes of play.
Martin's four rebounds are the fewest rebounds he has had since pulld down four against Fordham on January 28.
Coming into this game, Hasan Martin had registered a block in 21 straight games, he did not have a block in this one and so that streak is snapped.
Martin had 17 points and 16 rebounds in URI's loss to Davidson so chalk this up to nothing but an off night.
T.J. Buchanan
T.J. Buchanan was solid off the bench for URI against La Salle.
Buchanan poured in 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out two assists in 29 minutes of play time.
This is the first time that Buchanan has reached double-figures in the last five games, however, he has grabbed six rebounds in two straight games now for Rhody.
E.C. Matthews
E.C. Matthews led URI with 21 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the field, including 2-of-7 from three-point land and 3-of-6 from the free throw line.
Since missing the St. Bonaventure game with an injury, Matthews has reached double-figures in seven of the nine games that URI has played.
The eight field goals he knocked down against La Salle are the most shots that he has hit in a game since URI's home loss to VCU when he also knocked down eight.
Matthews also grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists in the game.
20 Wins
With the win, URI has reached the 20 win mark for the first time since the 2010-11 season and the first time they have reached 20 wins in the regular season since 2008-09.
URI will likely play post season basketball this year, barring a complete disaster, either in the NCAA Tournament or the NIT tournament.
Dan Hurley is obviously having his best season as the URI coach and his vision for the program is no longer a vision, it's here.
The Rams will be a tough out in any tournament.
Bracketology
The heartbreaking loss to Davidson hurt URI. In Joe Lunardi's latest bracketology report, the Rams are nowhere to be found while Davidson is now in the "last four in" category.
Now it's simple for the Rams, they have to keep winning and then make a deep run in the A-10 Tournament. They likely have at least get to the A-10 Final.
URI visits Dayton on Tuesday in a battle for first place in the conference. Lunardi currently has Dayton as a ten seed in the tournament.
