Rhody Rally Not Enough As Fordham Hands URI Men Fourth Straight Loss

University of Rhode Island Press Release

Rhode Island Starters
Jeremy Sheppard, Ishmael Leggett, Makhi Mitchell, Makhel Mitchell, Ishmael El-Amin

Fordham Starters
Chuba Ohams, Darius Quisenberry, Kyle Rose, Antrell Charlton, Abdou Tsimbila

How it Happened
Rhode Island dug itself too deep a hole in the first half, falling at Fordham 61-55 Wednesday night.

A sluggish start saw URI (12-8, 3-5 Atlantic 10) fall behind 16-7 nine minutes into the game, but a Jeremy Sheppard layup got Rhody back within six at 19-13. However, Fordham (9-11, 2-6 A-10) went on a 17-6 run over the final 6:54 of the period. Chuba Ohams – who had a double-double by halftime – scored five points during the run, helping the hosts go into the break ahead 36-19.

Rhode Island staged a furious comeback in the second half. A Kyle Rose 3-pointer put Fordham up by 18 at 46-28 with 13:19 to go. From there, Rhode Island went on a 20-2 run to tie the game. Jalen Carey scored five straight points and assisted on a Makhel Mitchell layup to give Rhody life, trimming the deficit to 11. Sebastian Thomas hit the first of his three second-half 3-pointers to get URI within single digits at 46-38.

Fordham scored to end the 10-0 run, but URI came right back with another run. Malik Martin and Carey sandwiched layups around a Thomas 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game. After Ohams missed three straight free throws (URI committed a lane violation on the first), Thomas drained another 3-pointer to knot the score 48-48 with 5:04 to go.

Looking to take its first lead of the night, Rhode Island could not capitalize on a Fordham turnover, and the teams traded empty possessions. Darius Quisenberry hit a 3-point shot, and Martin responded immediately with one of his own, tying the score again at 51-51 with 3:00 on the clock.

From there, Fordham closed the game on a 10-4 run. Ohams and Quisenberry hit back-to-back baskets to establish a four-point lead. Martin hit a pair of free throws to get URI back within two points. Abdou Tsimbila was left alone for a dunk underneath for Fordham. Antwan Walker scored on a tip-in rebound to again make it a two-point game at 57-55 with 1:03 left.

With the shot clock winding down, Quisenberry found Tsimbila for another basket. An offensive foul led to a URI turnover, and Antrell Charlton sank a pair of free throws with 27 seconds left to end the scoring and send URI to its fourth straight loss.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island’s bench led the rally in the second half, scoring 27 of URI’s 36 points.
• Jalen Carey had 12 points, Sebastian Thomas had a career-high nine and Malik Martin added seven.
• It was a breakthrough shooting performance for Thomas, who was 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Entering the game, he was 3-of-19 from long range.
• Center Makhel Mitchell just missed a double-double, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds.
• He also blocked four shots and had three steals.
• It is the 10th time this season he has had at least three blocks.
• In addition to his tip-in basket late, Antwan Walker had seven rebounds.
• Rhode Island struggled at the free throw line, hitting just 8-of-20.
• Fordham’s Chuba Ohams had 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Darius Quisenberry was limited to 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting.

Up Next
Rhode Island is back in action Saturday when it hosts Massachusetts. Game time is 2 p.m. on ESPN+ is 7 p.m.