URI Loses At LaSalle 80-66

URI Loses At LaSalle 80-66

What has been a very rough season for the Rhody Rams has now become historically bad. URI lost to LaSalle 80-66 in Philadelphia Saturday to fall to (3-17) overall and (0-5) in the Atlantic 10. It is officially the worst start to a season in the program’s 109 year history.

Rhode Island did show some resiliency early on erasing a 15-point first half deficit to tie the game at 35 heading into the locker room at halftime.

But URI could not hang with the host Explorers in the game’s final 20 minutes. Down 6 with less than 8 minutes to play, LaSalle went on a 16-6 run to pull away from URI for the win.

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NOTES:

-The game featured the return of junior Nikola Malesevic who broke his hand while punching a wall following the team’s loss to Yale on December 18th. Malesevic scored 12 points while playing 22 minutes coming off the bench. He connected on 2 of his 3 three point attempts as well.

-It has been a very solid rookie season for Rhody freshman Jonathan Holton. Holton led the team with an impressive double-double Saturday scoring 18 points while pulling down 17 rebounds. Holton was coming off of a career-best 18-rebound performance at Fordham earlier in the week.

-Auburn transfer Andre Malone had his most solid offensive outing as a Ram Saturday scoring 15 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field. However, he was 0 for 4 from beyond the three point arc.

-Fellow freshman Mike Powell also continued h Fran Dunphy’s Temple Owls is solid play as a rookie netting 12 points while dishing out 6 assists.

-Virginia transfer Billy Baron had been URI’s most consistent offensive threat for the team’s past few games but struggled going 0 for 5 from the field including 0 for 3 from three. Baron finished the game with 1 point, 5 rebounds and 1 assist in 22 minutes of action. He did not play in the game’s final 11 minutes.

-All 5 of LaSalle’s starters scored in double figures. Tyreek Duren led the Explorers with 21 points.

-The A-10 scored a quality win Saturday as Fran Dunphy's Temple Owls defeated the ACC’s Maryland Terrapins 73-60.

-Rhode Island remains the only winless team in conference play. Dayton (4-1) leads the A-10 with UMass and Xavier tied for second at (4-2).

-URI’s next game is at the Ryan Center Wednesday night against St. Bonaventure at 7pm.