Tale of two shots for URI

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Looking back on Rhode Island’s 75-72 loss to Oregon in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, it’s easy to pick out moments that could’ve swung the outcome in a different direction.

What if Kuran Iverson doesn’t foul Dillon Brooks as he’s putting up a 3-pointer with one second on the shot clock?

What if the officials call a blocking foul instead of a charge on E.C. Matthews?

What if any of the five Rhody players on the court could have grabbed a rebound following a free throw miss by Dylan Ennis?

For URI coach Dan Hurley, the NCAA tournament loss boiled down to the final two possessions – not any of those what-ifs.

“The difference in the game there, Tyler Dorsey hit a contested three and we missed a contested three,” he said in his postgame press conference. “You know, I think that's what makes – that's the fine line between winning and losing. You secure that rebound, it's easier to play offense down the stretch of games when you have the ball and you're tied or if you have the ball and you're up three.

“Down three, 20 seconds, 25 seconds, there's a level of panic that sets in, especially when the team is switching everything with the type of athletes and length they have. We're going to look back on that as coaches, probably, on this plane ride home tonight and it's going to be – probably that sequence probably cost us the Sweet 16. It's devastating.”

SENIOR SEND-OFF

This ending was inevitable.

Nearly every senior ends their college basketball career with a loss, and Hassan Martin and Kuran Iverson joined those ranks in a rough way on Sunday.

Martin ended a remarkable career by playing just 14 foul and injury-limited minutes. It is the second straight season for the power forward that has ended with him either being limited or shelved by a lowerbody injury.

Even with those injuries, Martin ends his career at Rhode Island with incredible numbers both this season and in his career. 72 blocked shots this year leaves him nine short of Kenny Green’s program record (328). Martin totalled over 1,300 points and 700 rebounds in his four years in Kingston.

“I'm going to remember Hassan Martin, who has been a rock of this program,” said Hurley. “You don't get a chance to coach a better person than him. You don't get a chance to play with a better person than him.”

Iverson had less time to make his mark as a Ram, but still leaves quite the impression. In the two tournament games in Sacramento, the Memphis transfer compiled 26 points and 10 rebounds.

Despite a reputation for being an off-the-court headache, Iverson never ran into any trouble in his two seasons at URI. Hurley has sung his praises at every turn, marveling at his transformation.

“I'm going to remember Kuran Iverson and the way he's grown since he transferred from Memphis, the way he's developed his character as a man and the way he's changed the way people view him,” said Hurley. “He's now a champion and a winner, and he's going to have an amazing, I think, career in basketball beyond now because he's developed great habits as a man.”

URI FANS EARN PRAISE

URI had the longest travel distance from campus to first round site of any team in the tournament - a whopping 2,980 miles. That didn’t stop postseason-starved fans and boosters from making the cross-country trip.

The school had an entire section of Keaney Blue-clad fans cheering them on, catching fans of the other schools playing at the site by surprise. The vendor selling commemorative T-shirts at the arena ran out of URI shirts during Friday’s game against Creighton.

TALK IS CHEAP

The URI-Oregon tilt got chippy at times. In the first half, the Ducks drew the ire of the officials on two occasions for chirping at the URI players and coaches. Dylan Ennis hit a 3-pointer in the first half, and let Hurley know about it as he ran back on defense. The officials stopped play and warned Ennis, but the talking continued regardless.

Dillon Brooks cost his team two points when he tipped-in a Duck miss and taunted the Rams. E.C. Matthews connected on both of the ensuing technical free throws.

“It was an atmosphere that was intense,” said Ennis. “As Coach [Altman] teaches us and us being Oregon Ducks we can't get into that. I put that on myself, being a more experienced guard I have to keep my cool with that stuff, and I know the game was intense. But if we would have lost then me and Dillon would have looked at ourselves and been really hurt. Coach tells us play as hard as you want and stay within the confines of the game. I'm sure we won't have that problem again the rest of the year.”

Not all of the talking on Sunday was of the trash variety, however. Postgame, Ennis relayed a moment he shared with URI guard Jared Terrell.

“He was actually talking to us the whole game, nothing too bad,” said Ennis. “He was saying, ‘This is what we live for.’ I think it was a little intense for it to be an emotional time between me and him, but he's right. We grew up watching college basketball and during the conference games it's great, but March Madness is something that is special. These are the type of games that you are going to remember and tell your kids and grandkids about one day.”

TOURNAMENT A GAME-CHANGER

Coming up three-points short of the Sweet Sixteen may have left a sour taste in some people’s mouths, but URI even having that opportunity could mark a major seachange for the program.

“It's amazing for our play- ers,” said Hurley. “They get a chance to play in the national stage, showcase their talents, which is great, obviously for our players. The experience has been amazing not only for the coaches and players in making us even more determined to be back up here on podiums with police escorts and playing in huge games.

“It drives that hunger more. I think at the university level, our fan base, I think it ignites a fire and a desire, you know, for this to be who we are every year and making that total commitment. I'm lucky to have an amazing athletic director and president in Thorr Bjorn and Dave Dooley that have gotten behind this program, and I imagine we are going to get behind it even more so this becomes more the normal for us.”

The Rams will certainly be in a position to return to the tournament next year. Iverson and Martin depart, but every guard on roster is slated to return, in addition to the arrival of touted point guard recruit Daron “Fatts” Russell. There is also an open scholarship that the program is expected to fill with a big-man junior-college transfer.