URI Runs by Fairfield in Opener

URI Runs by Fairfield in Opener

The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team dismantled Fairfield University 96-58 in the season opener Monday night at the Ryan Center.

Six Rams finished with double-digit points, while the team shot 53.8 percent from the floor. 

Rhode Island is now 2-1 in season openers under head coach Archie Miller. His record at URI is now 22-42.

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URI (1-0)  led throughout the game. The Rams were in the bonus by the game's second media timeout and used free throw shooting to go up by 10 at 21-11 after David Fuchs knocked a pair down. URI preserved its advantage from the foul line despite going four minutes without a field goal.

Fairfield (0-1) had a cold stretch of its own to close out the opening half, finishing the last four minutes without any points from the floor as Rhode Island took a 45-27 edge into the locker room. 

Coming out of halftime, a quick layup by Sebastian Thomas put the Rams up by 20. 

Rhody's newcomers shined in the second half, as rookie Tyonne Farrell assisted on a Javonte Brown bucket before adding one of his own on a fast break to expand URI's advantage. Brown later made it a 30-point difference when he slammed down a dunk with just under 15 minutes to go (58-28).

From there, Rhody mostly maintained its margin. Thirty of the team's 51 second-half points came from a combination of the new roster additions. 

Local product and walk-on Jaymien Aponte, a true freshman from Cranston, R.I., came off the bench to applause with just under a minute to go. The guard stuffed a Fairfield player trying to get a last-second shot up, sealing the Rams' win. 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

- Rhode Island was 34-of-41 at the free throw line. It was the most made free throws by a URI team since the Rams were 37-for-44 from the stripe in a 92-82 win over Centenary on Nov. 19, 2006.

- The 34 made free throws were a Ryan Center record. The previous record was 33, done twice by the Rams (Feb. 12, 2007, against Massachusetts and against Maine (Nov. 8, 2013).

- Guard Sebastian Thomas scored a team-high 18 points in his return to the Ryan Center. He previously played for the Rams 2021-23 before spending the 2023-24 season at UAlbany. The Providence native was 8-for-9 from the free-throw line and recorded seven assists.

- Freshman forward Tyonne Farrell earned the start in his first collegiate game and scored 14 points while adding a team-best seven rebounds. 

- Guard Jaden House finished with 16 points, three boards and one assist. He made the only three that he attempted.

- Forward David Green and guard Cam Estevez added 10 points apiece. Estevez also chipped in a team-best two blocks while Green corralled five rebounds. 

- Transfers Jamarques Lawrence (Nebraska) and Javonte Brown (Western Michigan) started in their Rhode Island debuts. 

- Brown had 11 points and added six boards.

- Transfer guard Quentin Diboundje (East Carolina) played seven minutes in his first game as a Ram, contributing two points. 

- URI shot .500 or better from the floor in just three games last season. 

- Fairfield shot 27.1 percent from the floor. A year ago, the worst any of URI's opponents shot was Fordham's 27.0 percent (March 9). 

- Last year, Rhode Island defeated the Stags 93-80 (Nov. 9). The Rams are now 5-0 all-time against the Stags. 

 

 

UP NEXT

Rhode Island will host Holy Cross on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. The action, part of the Rams' five-game home stand, will be streamed on ESPN+.