2011 Rhode Island Rams Basketball: Rhode Island vs Dayton

After a Nikola Malesevic layup gave Rhode Island a 15-6 lead with 12:24 remaining in the first half it may have been difficult to think the Rams would have a tough time scoring. But that's exactly what happened as they went scoreless over the next nine minutes and Dayton took advantage, scoring 21 unanswered to take a 27-15 lead with 3:43 remaining in the half. After a Jim Baron timeout Delroy James scored a layup to cut the lead to ten and the Rams were able to cut the margin to seven by the end of the half. The second half would feature the second large run on the game as the Rams went on a 29-5 run to take control, going on to win 67-53. Marquis Jones scored a game-high 20 points and James added 18 and 11 rebounds as URI (15-9, 6-4) bounced back from their loss at Temple on Saturday. Paul Williams led Dayton (17-8, 5-5) with 12 but with the struggles of the other starters proved to be too much for the Flyers to overcome.

The matchup in Kingston truly was a tale of two halves, with Dayton limiting Rhode Island to 31 percent shooting from the field while also outscoring them 12-3 in second chance and 11-0 in bench points. But things got away from the Flyers in the second half as they turned the ball over 10 times, resulting in 18 points for the Rams. URI also outscored Dayton 23-8 in the paint and 14-2 in second chance points, leading by as many as 19 points. For the game URI would outscore Dayton 28-11 in points off turnovers and 34-24 in the paint, an edge that stands out due to the struggles of Chris Wright and Josh Benson (a combined 4-for-11 and 11 total points). Rhode Island got their second half run going on a Malesevic three pointer to cut Dayton's lead to 33-27 with 18:22 to go. URI would score nine more points without a response from Dayton, who finally scored on a pair of free throws from Benson.

But that would only be a temporary salve as Akeem Richmond knocked down a three off of a Will Martell offensive rebound to put the Rams up four with 14:12 left in the game. While Dayton would counter with a basket or a free throw URI was at their best offensively, ultimately proving to be too much for the Flyers. Dayton would cut the deficit to 10 on a Juwan Staten layup with 6:37 to go, but Rhode Island would simply push the lead back out to 19 with a 9-0 run over the next four minutes. Luke Fabrizius made a pair of three pointers but it was too late by that point. After being out-rebounded by five in the first half URI finished a plus-5 in rebounding margin and they also shot 48.6 percent from the field. Next up for Rhode Island in a home game against Charlotte on Saturday, and Dayton hosts Temple the same day.

Atlantic 10 Conference Basketball Fans

Rams Run Past Dayton in Second Half