Munford Leads URI To First A-10 Win
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Xavier Munford scored 4 of his team-high 24 points in overtime to help lead the Rhody Rams past the St. Louis Bilikens 82-80 in overtime Saturday night.
Munford hit a game-tying three-pointer with just over a minute to play in regulation which sent the game to overtime for the Rams.
St. Louis built as much as a 9-point lead in the first half but the resilient Rams managed to keep the game within reach trailing by only 3, 29-26 at halftime.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe second half went back and forth before Munford's three tied the game at 65-65 with 1:05 left in regulation. Neither team would score in the game's final minute sending it to overtime.
In the 5-minute overtime, both teams lit it up with Rhody outscoring St. Louis 17-15 in extra time. Andre Malone (14p, 9 reb) scored 6 points in overtime, Mike Powell (9 pts) and Munford scored 4 each and Nikola Malesevic (14 pts) had 3. Freshman Jordan Hare was one rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds.
The win lifted URI to (6-10) overall and (1-2) in the Atlantic Ten. St. Louis falls to (12-5, 1-2) on the year.
Rhode Island hosts George Washington Wednesday night at the Ryan Center at 7pm.
NOTES:
-Rhody had its best shooting night of the season going 27-49 (55%) from the field and 10-19 (53%) from three-point range. The Rams also went 86% (18-21) from the free throw line.
-Dan Hurley was very unhappy with his team's effort on the backboards in their loss to Charlotte last Saturday. He questioned his team's effort after that loss. Message received. Rhody outrebounded St. Louis 30-21.
-Kwamain Mitchell led all scorers netting 29 points for the Billikens.
