URI Season Ends with Loss in A-10 to Richmond, Cox’s Future Unknown

URI Season Ends with Loss in A-10 to Richmond, Cox’s Future Unknown

Since January 22, the URI men’s basketball team won just four games and two of them were against Duquense who finished the season 6-24.

On Thursday night in the second round of the A-10 tournament, the Rams lost to Richmond after leading nearly the entire game by 10 or more points.

The loss raises more questions about the fate of URI head coach David Cox who has another year on his contract after this season.

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The final score was 64-59.

The Rams (15-16) built a 14-point lead by halftime behind the strong play of Malik Martin and Makhi Mitchell. Martin (14) and Mitchell (11) combined for 25 points in the first half as URI carried a 35-21 lead into the locker room.

Rhode Island led by 15 with 15:06 remaining following an Ishmael El-Amin jumper.

Richmond chipped away at the URI lead. Richmond's Tyler Burton – who was held scoreless in the first half – had 12 after the break, while Grant Golden and Jacob Gilyard had nine and eight, respectively, in the second half.

Most of the damage came at the free-throw line, where the Spiders were 20-of-24 in the second half. Meanwhile, Rhode Island missed its final six field-goal attempts and did not make a shot from the field over the final 6:04. It added up to Richmond outscoring the Rams by 19 in the second half to bring Rhode Island's season to an end.

 

Highlights

- Malik Martin led all scorers and matched his career-high with a season-best 20 points for the Rams. He was 8-of-11 from the field while also recording a team-best nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
- Makhi Mitchell was the only other Ram to score in double figures, finishing the night with 13 points, eight rebounds, one block and one steal.
- Makhel Mitchell added nine points, six boards and one assist.
- Jeremy Sheppard dished out four assists and had two steals.
- Jalen Carey recorded eight points, six rebounds, two steals and one assist.
- Antwan Walker had four points and three rebounds.
- Just one night after connecting at a 50-percent clip (10-20) from long range, Rhode Island sank just 11.8 percent (2-17) of its 3-point attempts. 
- The Rams were 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from the charity stripe, while Richmond was 22-of-33 from the line.
- URI had a significant advantage in rebounding (45-29) but Richmond made up for it by scoring 23 points off of 18 Rhode Island turnovers.