Strong Shooting Sends Rhody Past Short-Handed Georgia State

Rhode Island ran away from Georgia State in the second half, using an explosive offense and suffocating defense to cruise to a 94-59 win Saturday.

The Rams (5-2) scored 53 points after halftime, using the 3-point shot to create distance. Rhode Island was 10-for-15 from deep in the second half, a major reason URI outscored the visiting Panthers by 29 after the break.

Georgia State (4-2) put up a good effort in the opening 20 minutes. Despite being shorthanded due to a COVID-19 protocol, the Panthers hung with Rhode Island in the first half. Shooting 11-for-23 from the floor, the visitors trailed by just six (41-35) at halftime. However, Rhode Island tightened up defensively, wearing down Georgia State and limiting it to 13.6 percent from the floor (3-for-22) in the second half.

Inside the Box Score
Rhody was 15-for-28 (53.6 percentage) from 3-point range – a season-high for both threes made and 3-point percentage.
The 15 makes from behind the arc match the second-best performance in program history, falling one shy of the all-time record (16) which came against Saint Joseph’s on Jan. 3, 2017.
The Rams also combined for a season-high 25 assists on their 33 made baskets.
Rhode Island had five players score in double figures for the first time this season.
Jeremy Sheppard finished with a team-best 21 points and six assists.
Ishmael Leggett recorded a career-high 20 points and added a pair of assists in just shy of 23 minutes on the floor.
Makhi Mitchell had the lone double-double of the game, finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds. He also drew nine of Georgia State’s 21 fouls.
Antwan Walker and Malik Martin both came off the bench and contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively. Walker also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals while Martin added six boards, one assist, one steal and one block.
Makhel Mitchell dished out a career-best five assists to go with four points, four rebounds, three blocks and one steal.
Ishmael El-Amin chipped in with six points, five assists and a pair of rebounds.
The Rams’ bench outscored the Panthers’ bench 33-13
Up Next
The Rams return to action on Wednesday night at Harvard. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.