NEW: URI Falls to West Virginia 86-81 Despite Russell’s Big Performance
Sunday, December 01, 2019
Fatts Russell poured in a season-high 32 points, but the University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team fell 86-81 to the West Virginia Mountaineers on Sunday afternoon in Morgantown, West Virginia.
It is the sixth straight game in which Russell has scored 20 or more points.
Russell’s points came on 14-of-25 shooting from the field. He also dished out five assists and recorded five steals.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTURI drops to 5-3 on the season, while West Virginia improves to 7-0.
URI Loses in Final Seconds
Trailing 82-79 with 57 seconds left in the game, Rhode Island got a layup by Cyril Langevine to cut their deficit to one, 82-81, with 34 seconds to play in the game.
On West Virginia’s next possession, Jermaine Haley got a layup to push the Mountaineers lead back up to three, 84-81 with 12 seconds left.
On the Rams final possession, Rhode Island ran Russell off a screen, but Tyrese Martin’s pass was too high for Russell to handle and the ball went out of bounds.
The mountaineers would seal the game at the free-throw line in the final three seconds.
Langevine added 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Rams.
URI Rallies in 2nd Half
Trailing by 11, 44-33, at the half, the Rams rallied to tie the game at 60 on a Jeff Dowtin layup with 9:26 left in the game.
The tie was short-lived as West Virginia’s Oscar Tshiebwe would score five straight points to give the Mountaineers a five-point lead, 65-60, with eight minutes to go.
A three by Dana Tate three with 7:15 left got Rhode Island back within one, 65-64, before the Mountaineers would score the next five points to push their lead back up to six, 70-64, with 5:38 left.
West Virginia maintained a six-point lead, going up 75-69, with just under four minutes to play in the game.
Rhode Island would rally again, getting within one point, 82-81, in the final minute.
Next Up
URI returns to action on Friday, December 6 when they renew their rivalry with Providence College at the Ryan Center.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2.
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