Spring Break
URI men's basketball crushes Monmouth, takes down VCU
Chris Smith
Issue date: 11/25/08 Section: Sports
11/25/08 - The University of Rhode Island men's basketball team is off to a 3-1 start after defeating Monmouth University, 85-62, on Thursday night and Virginia Commonwealth University, 92-86, Saturday night.
Junior Keith Cothran led the Rams offensively in both games on his way to consecutive career highs in scoring with 18 and 23 respectively.
"I just want to be more aggressive and just be consistent," Cothran said.
Thursday night the Rams shot a season best 64 percent in the first half, taking an 18 point lead through the first 20 minutes of play. In the second half Rhody continued the onslaught, starting out on a 15-1 run to take a 63-31 lead.
The Rams would extend their lead to 37 points on their way to an 85-62 victory in the opening game of the 2008 Hoop Group Philly Classic.
Cothran led all scorers, shooting 7-of-10 from the floor and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Senior Jimmy Baron was 3-of-7 from deep adding 15 points. Senior Kahiem Seawright added 13 points and seven rebounds.
Saturday night at the Ryan Center, the Rams faced a much tougher test against the VCU Rams in a game that featured 19 lead changes and 12 ties.
After trailing 4-0, Rhody went on a 12-2 run in the opening minutes of the game to take an early six-point lead. The first half was a tight back - and - forth battle as neither team extended a significant lead. The game was tied at 43 going into the half.
In the second half, the Rams shot 66.7 percent from the field opening a 61-51 lead with 11:37 remaining in the game. VCU took the momentum battling its way back into the game, eventually taking a 72-68 lead with just under seven minutes to play.
On the next possession Baron hit his first three-pointer of the game, bringing the crowd to their feet.
VCU missed a three-pointer on the other end and Cothran converted a lay-up to put the Rams back in front 73-72, with 5:12 left. Back and forth they went as the lead exchanged hands six times over the next three minutes as junior Delroy James put Rhody in front with a lay-up 83-82.
Junior Keith Cothran led the Rams offensively in both games on his way to consecutive career highs in scoring with 18 and 23 respectively.
"I just want to be more aggressive and just be consistent," Cothran said.
Thursday night the Rams shot a season best 64 percent in the first half, taking an 18 point lead through the first 20 minutes of play. In the second half Rhody continued the onslaught, starting out on a 15-1 run to take a 63-31 lead.
The Rams would extend their lead to 37 points on their way to an 85-62 victory in the opening game of the 2008 Hoop Group Philly Classic.
Cothran led all scorers, shooting 7-of-10 from the floor and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Senior Jimmy Baron was 3-of-7 from deep adding 15 points. Senior Kahiem Seawright added 13 points and seven rebounds.
Saturday night at the Ryan Center, the Rams faced a much tougher test against the VCU Rams in a game that featured 19 lead changes and 12 ties.
After trailing 4-0, Rhody went on a 12-2 run in the opening minutes of the game to take an early six-point lead. The first half was a tight back - and - forth battle as neither team extended a significant lead. The game was tied at 43 going into the half.
In the second half, the Rams shot 66.7 percent from the field opening a 61-51 lead with 11:37 remaining in the game. VCU took the momentum battling its way back into the game, eventually taking a 72-68 lead with just under seven minutes to play.
On the next possession Baron hit his first three-pointer of the game, bringing the crowd to their feet.
VCU missed a three-pointer on the other end and Cothran converted a lay-up to put the Rams back in front 73-72, with 5:12 left. Back and forth they went as the lead exchanged hands six times over the next three minutes as junior Delroy James put Rhody in front with a lay-up 83-82.
