Missed Free Throws Haunt Rams

KINGSTON — Free throws are the greatest misnomer in basketball, as contrary to what their name might imply. They are often the highest priced aspect of the game of basketball.

The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team found out firsthand at the Thomas M. Ryan Center Saturday the cost of free throws – a victory.

“We didn’t make free throws down the stretch and we didn’t play as hard as we would have liked to in the second half from the beginning,” URI senior Marquis Jones said.

The Rams missed 10 of their final 15 free throws in the final 5:10 of the game as the University of Massachusetts was able to leave Kingston with a 66-60 win.

“I thought it was a very disappointing game, and it was really two different halves,” URI head coach Jim Baron said. 

After sophomore Nikola Malesevic put in a layup on the first possession of the second half to give Rhody a 10-point lead the Minutemen responded to take control of the game.

UMass scored 13 straight points and outscored the Rams 24-7 over the next 12 minutes to turn a 10-point deficit into a 10-point lead.

“URI I thought played a little better in the first half, and I thought we picked up our defense and made some shots in the second half,” UMass head coach Derek Kellogg said.

The Rams were able to get as close as three points with 2:33 remaining, however their inability to make free throws completely changed the complexion of the game.

While the Rams only trailed by three, they could have possibly been up a point if junior Orion Outerbridge, junior Jamal Wilson and senior Delroy James had not combined to go 4-for-8 from the line in the previous four possessions.

After a series of Minutemen free throws and a James layup, the Rams once again had an opportunity to make it a one possession game with Jones on the line. 

“I never think that we’re going to lose until the clock says 0.0. I mean today, even with 1:30 left and down four, I thought we had a good chance of winning,” Jones said.

Jones toed the stripe with 1:04 remaining and the Rams trailing 62-58, but each of Jones’ free throws rattled out.

“I do the same thing over and over again. It’s just unfortunately today they didn’t fall,” Jones said. “We missed 16 free throws and anytime you miss 16 free throws you’re going to put yourself in a bad position and today was no different.”

The Rams were right there at the end with an opportunity to win the game despite some abhorrent outside shooting numbers, finishing 1-for-19 on three-pointer in the game.

“It’s difficult, but at the same time that’s what happened when you’re a shooting team,” Jones said. “We take a lot of three-pointers, and unfortunately today they didn’t fall for us.”

James led four Rhody players in double figures with 15 points, while Malesevic, Outerbridge and senior Will Martell each had 10 points.

The Rams will be hard pressed to get into the top four and earn a first round bye in the Atlantic 10 Tournament after the loss with just four regular season games remaining.

“It’s very important. You can think of it as a bye game or you can think about it as if you’re the fifth and you have a home game to get some more momentum going into the A-10,” Jones said.  “Either way, we’re going to keep playing it one game at a time.”

Rhody (16-10 overall, 7-5 A-10), who is currently fifth in the conference and two games back of fourth, will travel to take on Duquesne University (17-8 overall, 9-3 A-10) Wednesday at 7 p.m.

“We just practice hard like we always do, we know that we’ve got Duquesne on Wednesday, and they’ve been tough at home,” Jones said.