Rams party like it’s 1998
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dan Hurley stole an occasional glance at the raucous Rhode Island section and realized just how much this NCAA tournament means to a starved program, and to an entire state that loves its basketball even if far more under the radar than so many of the others featuring powerhouse programs.
Who could blame them? Back in the tournament for the first time in 18 years, these Rams are on a roll they hope lasts a little longer.
Jeff Dowtin scored a career-high 23 points with a perfect day at the freethrow line, upstart Rhode Island answered every threat and the Rams ran right into the next round of the NCAA tournament by dropping cold-shooting No. 6 seed Creighton, 8472, yesterday in an opener of the Midwest Region.
“The emotion from them, it almost felt like 18 years’ worth of excitement, and they really inspired the guys,” Hurley said.
Kuran Iverson scored 17 points and Hassan Martin had 12 points and eight rebounds as 11th-seeded Rhode Island (25-9) earned its ninth straight victory. The program won an NCAA tournament game for the first time since advancing to the Elite Eight and losing to Stanford in 1998.
Ronnie Harrell Jr. scored a career-high 15 points in Creighton’s 40 percent shooting day when little went right, like all the missed layups.
Hurley’s team hit the court for loose balls, crashed the boards with energy and found a way to withstand every spurt by the Bluejays (25-10).
The Rams made a lot of free throws, too.
E.C. Matthews coolly converted two chances from the line with 2:32 and made all 10 of his free throws on his way to 16 points. Dowtin also hit all 10 from the line as URI went an impressive 28-of31 on free throws in all.
And what fun for all those blue-clad Rams fans who traveled cross-country from Kingston through a major Northeast snowstorm for California’s capital to witness the program’s milestone moment.
“Across the bench, it was amazing that they were there and we could see ‘em and they were loud,” Dan Hurley said.
Oh yes, and Bobby Hurley was there in the stands at Golden 1 Center — along with the rest of their basketball-crazed support system featuring Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley Sr. Bobby Hurley is the Arizona State head coach, and now will be called upon for his “Pac-12 intel” on URI’s next opponent, Oregon.
In one moment that perfectly captured what Dan Hurley has worked so hard to build in his five seasons, Martin pulled his arms around teammates in a close-knit huddle during the second half to keep the Rams together.
When the final buzzer sounded, junior Jared Terrell skipped in joy. The team posed for a quick photo on the court before exiting.
“Honestly, it feels like I’m dreaming,” Martin said. “This is what I asked for when I first got here and it took three, four years. But to finally just be here to experience this is amazing.”