URI Rams Beat By #13 Wisconsin -- and the Ire of the Refs
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URI Rams Beat By #13 Wisconsin -- and the Ire of the Refs
The Rams signed the contract Monday to play on Wednesday and in the first half they paid the price. Wisconsin is ranked #13 in the U.S. and this is URI's second game against a top 25 team. They lost to Arizona State University in their opener.
The Rams lost 73-62 and had their three-game winning streak broken.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIt seemed that URI played two games against two opponents. The first half was one game and the second game was very different.
In the first half the Rams were a turnover machine and scored just 16 points at the half. The URI turnovers led to 15 Badger points, but seemed to happen on every play - inbounds, entry passes, basic entry passes.
The Rams trailed 33-16.
Second Half
The second half the Rams returned to normalcy and began to play competitively.
Despite a better offensive showing in the second half, Rhode Island could only get the game under double figures late in the second half. The Rams opened the second half making 5-of-7 from the floor, but Wisconsin was even better. The Badgers started the half 7-of-11 as a team, pushing their lead to as many as 22 points.
In the second half there were a slew of controversial calls and non-calls by the officials — all which helped the Badger’s effort. URI got hit with two techs.
Rhode Island had a 9-0 run and managed to cut the deficit to single digits. Jeremy Sheppard's 3-pointer with 5:17 to go made the score 60-51. Another Sheppard 3-pointer moments later kept the run going as the Rams got within eight points. That was as close as URI got, as Wisconsin held off the rally attempt. Sheppard was the only Ram in double figures finishing with 13 points.
FIVE FACTS
- Rhode Island had 11 first-half turnovers, helping Wisconsin to a 15-0 advantage in points off turnovers before the break.
- Both teams struggled offensively in the opening 20 minutes. The Rams shot 25.9 percent (7-of-27), while Wisconsin was slightly better at 33.3 percent (10-of-30).
- Rhode Island was 3-of-13 from 3-point range. After going 0-for-8 in the first half, Rhode Island finally connected with 11:02 remaining on a trey from Jeremy Sheppard. The Rams were 3-of-5 in the second half.
- Sophomore Makhel Mitchell had eight points and eight rebounds and his twin brother Makhi Mitchell had eight points and an assist before fouling out.
- Fatts Russell had just 8 points and 5 rebounds.
Up Next
Rhode Island will hit the road again for a game at Western Kentucky on Sunday, Dec. 13. Game time is set for 12 p.m. on CBSSN.