SUCCESSFUL CRUSADE
Shorthanded URI squad gets big contributions from Terrell, Berry in 88-66 blowout win over Holy Cross
KINGSTON — It took the URI men’s basketball team just five minutes during Sunday’s matinee against Holy Cross to turn a nail-biter into an 88-66 laugher. The Rams exploded for 14-straight points, sparked by the stellar offensive play of Jared Terrell and Andre Berry.
Terrell tied a career-high in points with 25, and Berry set a new personal best of 20. After leading by only three at half, the Rams kicked it up several notches behind the inside/outside play of Berry and Terrell to take home a much-needed win.
“We started bearing down on defense, passing the ball and finishing plays at the rim,” Berry explained of the quick turnaround.
“Coach [Dan Hurley] came into the huddle during a timeout and really got on us about finishing and defending,” added Terrell.
The Rams were tasked with taking on a pesky Crusader squad without the services of two of their starters. E.C. Matthews was an expected scratch - having just broken his wrist last Monday - but he was unexpected joined on the bench by Cyril Langevine, who missed the contest with an undisclosed injury.
“We knew when we were watching the Nevada game that Langevine was hurt,” said Hurley. “He shouldn't have played in the game. He's such a tough kid. We played Oregon last year and he sprained both ankles. His ankles looked grapefruits after the game. His
threshold for pain is like few you'll ever see.
“At best for him next week he's questionable. We don't know the timeline.”
With Langevine in warm-up attire for an indefinite amount of time, the already-thin Rhody frontcourt has been thrust into ‘next man-up’ mode. Berry filled that role on Sunday, pacing the offense down-low, using his soft hands to catch each and every entry pass. He was 9-11 from the field and is now shooting a whopping 72 percent on the young season. He has also hit all five of his free throw attempts.
“The thing we can't lose sight of here is throwing that ball inside,” Hurley said. “The guards are the major strength of the team but we can't lose sight of that we have a big guy we can throw the ball inside to. 'Dre has gotten better defensively, I thought he was more active on that side. We have to get 'Dre the ball a fair amount of times.”
Just as Berry filled the void left by Langevine, Terrell was an offensive force in lieu of Matthews. Terrell’s electric offensive day included a ferocious second half fast-break dunk that began the fast-paced finish for Rhody.
The two-handed Terrell slam was part of a six-point spurt that helped the Rams start to pull away from the Crusaders. A Holy Cross player at one point pointed at Terrell, telling his teammates “No shots for him!”
Suffice to say, Holy Cross’s defensive plan did not come to fruition. A senior guard, Terrell was 3-6 from deep, had three assists and hit a 3- pointer at the end of the half to give URI a lead at the break.
The Crusaders drew back within five points after URI stretched their lead to double-digits in the second half, but the streaky Rams were not done just yet.
The Rams scored the next 14 points following a 3-pointer by Matt Zignorski. Berry and Terrell had six of the points on the streak, while Stan Robinson and Jarvis Garrett wrapped up the run with an explosive dunk and a made 3-pointer, respectively.
“Andre and Jared both had big games on offense,” said Hurley. “Jarvis and Stan gave us enough as third and fourth scorers.”
Facing a team that runs the Princeton offense for what feels like the 10th time in the past two seasons, URI had to scramble defensively to combat the quick-cuts and dangerous 3-point shooting of the Crusaders.
“You would prefer – with the type of schedule we're dealing with – that when we get a home buy game, we could play against a group of guys who are going run up and down and fire up some shots,” Hurley said, when asked about coaching against the Princeton offense. “It's not ideal when you're playing the gauntlet we're playing to then play against a Bill Carmodycoached Princeton offensive team. They were 2-0 coming in, having just beat Harvard.”
The unique flavor brought to the table by Carmody and the Crusaders gave URI fits in the first half. Holy Cross shot 58.3 percent in the first 20 minutes, including a 5-11 mark from deep. Caleb Green used quick penetration to cut up the Ram defense, going for eight points and seven assists in the first half alone.
“The first half we made some mistakes,” Hurley said. “Overhelped, didn't quite lock in on the scouting report, the 3-point shooters. Green in the first half was the best player on the court.”
Green finished with a double-double of 14 points and 11 assists. The defense was not quite as porous in the second half, however, limiting Holy Cross to 11 makes on 30 tries.
“We played a lot harder tonight, especially defensively, than we did out west,” against Nevada, said Hurley. “Second half we woke up a little bit. Played smarter defensively, played real hard. Sped them up.”
Robinson had five steals, living on the hip of his assigned man all day. He nabbed the ball on the opening possession, streaking down the court for an uncontested layup. Garrett came up with three turnovers, as the Rams forced Holy Cross to cough the ball up 17 times.
“We wanted to try and pressure them,” Hurley said. “We gave up too many 3-pointers. Try to get deflections, our goal was 35 deflections and 18 turnovers. We were really close on those numbers. Sometimes against that offense, you're going to look really bad. Then you're going to look really disruptive. It's just what it is.
“When you beat a good team that plays a unique style, you feel better about the win.”
The Rams will play some holiday basketball this week, taking part in the NIT Season Tip-Off at the Barclays Center. On Thanksgiving, Rhody takes on Seton Hall, and they will play either Virginia or Vanderbilt on Friday, depending on the results of the first round.