Balanced Offensive Attack Sparks URI Past Central Connecticut Sunday

University of Rhode Island Press Release

Rhode Island Starters
House, Lawrence, Farrell, Green, Brown

Central Connecticut State Starters
Ostowsky, Haid, Jones, Momoh, Brown

How it Happened
Rhode Island held off a scrappy Central Connecticut State squad, holding off the Blue Devils 77-69 Sunday night.

Rhode Island (10-1) got a huge game from Jamarques Lawrence, who led four Rams in double figures with 16 points while also matching his career best with seven assists.

The visiting Blue Devils (6-4) started out hot from long range, hitting 5-of-10 from the arc as it opened a 20-16 lead following a Devin Haid trey. From there, Rhode Island went on a 17-8 run. David Fuchs started the run with a layup and dunk. David Green scored the next five points for URI and Jamarques Lawrence capped the run with back-to-back 3-pointers as the Rams took a 33-28 lead. CCSU trimmed the lead to three points before the half at 35-32.

Rhody pulled ahead by as many as eight points early in the second half, but CCSU kept responding, A Joe Ostrowski 3-pointer trimmed URI’s lead to 46-44 just below the 16-minute mark, but Jamarques Lawrence responded with a trey of his own. That started an 10-2 run that included a hoop-and-harm three-point play from David Green, a layup by David Fuchs and a long jumper by Drissa Traore as the shot clock expired just under the 12-minute mark. The spurt extended URI’s lead to 10 points at 56-46. While CCSU never went away, the Rhody advantage hovered around 10 points the rest of the way.

The Blue Devils managed to cut the lead to five points twice in the final minute, but Rhode Island held on for its 10th win of the season.

Inside the Box Score Box

• Rhode Island set a new season best with 21 assists on 26 field goals .
• Forward David Fuchs had a big game off the bench, scoring 10 points to go with 12 rebounds. It was his second double-double of the season and eighth of his career.
• With point guard Sebastian Thomas out (foot), guard Jamarques Lawrence scored a team-high 16 points while matching his career best with seven assists.
• Lawrence played the entire 40 points and had just one turnover.
• Forward Tyonne Farrell had 13 points, on 5-of-7 shooting.
• It was his third game scoring in double figures.
• Forward David Green contributed 14 points, five rebounds and four assists.
• Center Javonte Brown had nine points and eight rebounds.
• Forward Drissa Traore had five points and four rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench.
• Guard Cam Estevez had six points, three assists and two rebounds.
• The Rams had 21 assists and just seven turnovers.
• Rhody is now 8-0 in the Ryan Center this season.

Up Next
Rhode Island plays Temple at the Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Mass. on Saturday, Dec. 21. Game time is 6:30 p.m. and it will air on CBSSN.