Spring Break
URI climbs to third place in conference
Chris Smith
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Sports
02/26/09 - The University of Rhode Island men's basketball team (21-8 overall, 10-4 A-10) defeated the University of Dayton, 93-91, on a last second overtime buzzer beater Wednesday night at the Ryan Center for the third annual "Pink Out."
With just a little more than eight seconds remaining in overtime, sophomore point guard Marquis Jones drove to the basket and converted a last second reverse lay-up as time expired.
"[There were] 8.9 seconds on the clock, I wanted to get a pick and roll with Kahiem [Seawright,]" Jones said. "We had success with it early. We went to it and they switched. I just tried to take advantage of the opportunity to get to the basket."
Five Rhody players reached double figures, contributing to their fifth consecutive victory. Seawright, Jimmy Baron and Keith Cothran led the Rams with 19 points apiece. Delroy James scored 18 off the bench. URI is 15-4 when James has come off the bench in his last 19 games. Jones added 13 points.
"I just had to stay mentally tough today," Seawright, who scored five of Rhody's 15 overtime points with four fouls, said. "I got some fouls and I had to go to the bench. [Rhody Assistant] Coach [Kevin] Clark was telling me my time was going to come. I just made some plays. I want to thank my teammates. I'd like to thank the student body, though. I think the student body was tremendous. They were loud the whole game."
The first half was a high-energy, fast-paced battle. The Flyers got off to an early 11-7 lead before Seawright and James tied up the game on the next two Ram possessions. The Rams got their first lead of the game on a Jones three-pointer to put them in front 14-13 with 14:11 remaining in the half.
The teams went up-and-down the floor exchanging buckets. Rhody took their largest lead of the half with 7:58 to go as Seawright converted a lay-up putting the Rams in front 35-29. Rhody was able to hold onto that seven-point margin leading 52-44 at the break.
With just a little more than eight seconds remaining in overtime, sophomore point guard Marquis Jones drove to the basket and converted a last second reverse lay-up as time expired.
"[There were] 8.9 seconds on the clock, I wanted to get a pick and roll with Kahiem [Seawright,]" Jones said. "We had success with it early. We went to it and they switched. I just tried to take advantage of the opportunity to get to the basket."
Five Rhody players reached double figures, contributing to their fifth consecutive victory. Seawright, Jimmy Baron and Keith Cothran led the Rams with 19 points apiece. Delroy James scored 18 off the bench. URI is 15-4 when James has come off the bench in his last 19 games. Jones added 13 points.
"I just had to stay mentally tough today," Seawright, who scored five of Rhody's 15 overtime points with four fouls, said. "I got some fouls and I had to go to the bench. [Rhody Assistant] Coach [Kevin] Clark was telling me my time was going to come. I just made some plays. I want to thank my teammates. I'd like to thank the student body, though. I think the student body was tremendous. They were loud the whole game."
The first half was a high-energy, fast-paced battle. The Flyers got off to an early 11-7 lead before Seawright and James tied up the game on the next two Ram possessions. The Rams got their first lead of the game on a Jones three-pointer to put them in front 14-13 with 14:11 remaining in the half.
The teams went up-and-down the floor exchanging buckets. Rhody took their largest lead of the half with 7:58 to go as Seawright converted a lay-up putting the Rams in front 35-29. Rhody was able to hold onto that seven-point margin leading 52-44 at the break.
