Rams Win Thriller in OT

KINGSTON—The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team erased a 17 point second half deficit to earn a thrilling 71-70 overtime victory against the University of Charlotte Saturday at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.

“It’s relieving and at the same time it brought us together a little bit more,” junior Jamal Wilson said.  “In order for us to get where we want to be I think that’s our main part in being cohesive and staying that way.”

Wilson scored the game-winner for Rhody on a put back as time expired off a weak side rebound, and was immediately mobbed by his teammates.

“I got a pretty good bounce and a good look, and luckily the defender was smaller so I had a bit of an advantage,” Wilson said.  “He did box out, but I kind of pushed him under the basket a little bit.”

The rebound came off a miss from sophomore Akeem Richmond, who caught the ball with three second remaining and launched a two-point jump shot fading out of bounds from the right corner.

“I think it was a two, I was way too deep in the corner but I thought it was good,” Richmond said.  “Luckily ‘Maly crashed the boards.” 

Richmond led the Rams in scoring, burying six 3-pointers for 20 points, while sophomore Nikola Malesevic chipped in with 19 points.  Senior Marquis Jones finished with nine points, eight rebounds and ten assists in 45 minutes.

“We’ve got one point guard, and he’s exhausted,” URI head coach Jim Baron said.  “You have to manage the game a lot more carefully because, I mean he played 45 minutes and you can’t really take him out because he’s just so durable.”

The comeback was completed after the Rams trailed by as many as 17 points with 18:28 remaining in the second half.

“They went up 17, and it was pretty tough fighting back, especially with them playing pretty good on the road,” Wilson said.  “Basically staying together and fighting together when its going downhill is big.”

Following a layup from the 49ers’ K.J. Sherrill, Rhody responded with a 16-2 run over the next seven minutes to cut the deficit to a single point.  Richmond was big for the Rams during the stretch, burrying three 3-pointers after going 1-for-5 from the outside in the first half.

“The shot wasn’t falling in the first half, so at halftime I went and got myself together and the shot started falling,” Richmond said.  “My teammates told to continue to shoot the basketball, so that’s what I did.”

While the Rams were able to get back in the game, it did not appear as if they would be able to complete the comeback down the stretch.

Jones had an opportunity to win the game at the end of regulation, but his shot from the right elbow was blocked by the 49ers’ Derrio Green. 

The Rams were unable to take advantage of their opportunities at the line in the extra session, going 1-for-4, and seemed destined for a loss trailing 70-67 with 34.1 seconds remaining.

URI also had to make do without the services of senior Will Martell, senior Delroy James and Outerbridge, who had all fouled out by this point.  Baron elected to go with Wilson and senior Ben Eaves, whose athleticism ultimately paid dividends for the Rams.

After Jones missed a layup with 26 seconds to go, the ball was batted up in the air three to four times before settling in the hands of Jones, thanks in large part to the effort from Wilson and Eaves to keep the ball alive.

Jones then swept to the basket for an uncontested layup with 12 seconds to go, but the Rams still needed to get the ball back to have a chance at the win.

That is where Malesevic stepped in, trapping Green in the corner along with Jones, and ultimately being able to get two hands on the ball while staying in bounds to get the jump ball. 

“He just does a lot of little things, he’s a smart players, he hits open shots, makes plays, makes passes and rebounds the basketball,” Baron said.

The possession arrow was in the Rams favor, and for once in the overtime session fortune appeared to be as well.

On the ensuing Rams possession Jones had his shot blocked out of bounds on a drive to the hoop with three seconds to go, setting the table for Wilson’s heroics.

“Well we like to make it interesting, good Lord,” Baron said.  “It’s tough when you dig yourself a hole, but you have to step up and make shots.”

As improbable as the Rams comeback was, it was the hustle plays, like Wilson and Eaves fighting for a loose ball, Malesevic getting in position to get the jump ball and Wilson crashing the offensive glass that ultimately made the difference for URI.

“We’re going to need everybody to step and be ready, and there’s no question this was a great win for us,” Baron said. 

Their effort was evident in the hustle stats, outscoring Charlotte 19-3 in points off turnovers and 15-6 in second chance points in the second half and overtime. 

After taking their first back-to-back win in three weeks, the Rams will have a week off before hosting the University of Massachusetts Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Ryan Center.

“We’ve been a lot more consistent in the past, and that’s what we’re trying to build is consistency,” Baron said.