Rhode Island's Torrid Shooting Topples Brown, 80-60

Wednesday, December 31

4 pm

Brown University

7-7

Rhode Island

8-3

Brown

Rhode Island

Rhode Island's Torrid Shooting Topples Brown, 80-60

12/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Kingston, R.I. – Hot-shooting Rhode Island led from start to finish in an 80-60 win over Brown at the Ryan Center. The Bears fall to 7-7 with the loss while URI improves to 8-3 overall. Bears' junior forward Cedric Kuakumensah led all scorers with 21 points.

There will be no Division I Rhode Island champion this season, with Brown, Providence and URI each earning one victory in the series. The Bears also earned a victory over Division I Bryant, who did not play either the Rams or Friars.

"Credit Rhode Island," said Brown head coach Mike Martin. "They are a good, talented team, who is well coached and prepared for this game. Defensively, that's not who we are. We're better than we played."

The Rams shot 51-percent (28-of-55) from the field overall, while holding the Bears to just 37-percent (28-of-48) shooting. Brown was out-rebounded by a 38-27 margin.

Kuakumensah provided most of the offense for the Bears with a yeoman's effort, scoring a game high 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 7-of-7 shooting from the free throw line. He also pulled down five rebounds and blocked three shots.

Bears' sophomore point guard Tavon Blackmon chipped in with 13 points and seven assists in 36 minutes of action. Senior forward Rafael Maia had nine points and a team high six rebounds.

Rams' forward Hassan Martin led four URI players in double figures, scoring a team high 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, while also grabbing a game high seven rebounds.

EC Matthews scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half, while Biggie Minnis and Jarelle Reischel netted 10 points each for the Rams.

The Rams opened up 27-16 lead midway through the first half on torrid 12-of-18 (67-percent) shooting from the field, and continued its offensive onslaught to build a 46-28 lead at the half with Martin and Matthews scoring 10 points each for the Rams.

Rhody connected on its first three shots of the second half while keeping Brown scoreless, pulling ahead by 25 points to put the game away, 53-28, on a lay-up by Earl Watson at the 16:35 mark.

Brown opens the New Year at home on Monday, January 5, hosting UMass Lowell. Tip-off is 7pm at the Pizzitola Sports Center.