Wake-up Call: URI Hoops Humbled by Hot Shooting SMU 89-58.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
URI guard Xavier Munford made a free throw to make it 24-20 in favor of SMU with 4:37 remaining in the 1st half, but the Mustangs proceeded to reel off a 38-13 run over the next 12:02 of game time as they ran away with Monday night’s game by a final score of 89-58.
It’s never easy to beat a team that shoots 55% from the field and 46% from the 3-point line, but it’s impossible to beat said team when you commit 20 turnovers to just 10 assists as a team. That’s exactly what URI tried to do on the road Monday against a young and talented Mustangs team.
Rhody shot 2-15 from 3-point range (13%) and just 31% from the floor for the game. With 4 transfer players seeing prominent minutes, the rust was certainly showing for the Rams.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFreshman E.C. Matthews scored 15 points to lead Rhody, but even he had a shaky night with 5 turnovers. Gilvydas Biruta and Ifeanyi Onyekaba each scored 9 points in the loss, an no other URI player topped 6 points.
The Rams had a huge 55-28 rebounding edge over Maine on Friday night but were out-rebounded 45-40 by the Mustangs, who were able to match up athlete for athlete and inch for inch with the Rhody big guys.
Nic Moore shot 7-9 from the field, including 4-4 from 3-point range, and the SMU guard led all scorers with 20 points on Monday. Freshman Ben Moore chipped in 13 points off the bench for the Mustangs, whose bench outscored the URI starting 5 42-25.
URI Head Coach Dan Hurley was visibly upset during most of the 2nd half, and the lopsided loss will likely lead to a long week at practice for the team in blue.
URI stands at 1-1 on the season. Their next game is this Friday at home against North Carolina A&T.
Be sure to stay tuned to Golocalprov.com all season for non-stop coverage of URI Basketball, and follow URI Hoops writer Jack Andrade on twitter for instant updates and analysis (including during games) by clicking here.
