URI crushes Bears
Rams get back to ‘Rhode Island basketball’
KINGSTON — When your team struggles to shoot, it helps to have a big man you can rely on to clean up the mess. The Rhode Island men’s basketball team’s struggles with their shot are well-documented – they entered Wednesday’s game against Brown sporting a 24.7 percent mark past the 3-point arc – but fortunately enough, the Rams also have Cyril Lan- gevine and Jermaine Harris on their side.
Langevine dragged URI’s field goal percentage into respectability, routinely finishing at the rim to post his fourth double-double, and help his team to a 71-51 win.
“That was Rhode Island basketball today,” URI head coach David Cox said. “Proud of the way the guys responded. We had two great days of preparation and we executed the plan”
Seven of Langevine’s 19 points came on second chance opportunities thanks to a staggering 12 offensive boards. Even when the offense failed to find him, he found a way to insert himself into the conversation.
“I’m averaging a double-double, now,” said a smiling Langevine. “I’ve waited so long for that. Coach always preaches, be aggressive. Starts with practice, translates to the game; that’s what happened.”
“Cyril has been doing this for us all year. That’s who he is now. That was a grown-man effort,” Cox said.
The action was fully dynamic in the paint. The experienced Langevine imposed his will, but so did newcomer Jermaine Harris. He posted career-highs in points, minutes and (15, 25 and five, respectively).
“Cyril had an outstanding night,” Cox said. “Jermaine got it going, we knew it was only a matter of time.”
“It’s slowed down for me,” Harris said. “I’ve been taking in a lot from the older guys. [Christion Thompson], Jeff [Dowtin] and them.”
It was a full-on coming out party for the 6-foot-8 forward to start the second half. He scored six consecutive points, capping the personal run with a one-handed slam.
“It was just a matter of time for things to click for Jermaine,” Cox said. “Needed things to slow down a little bit. He needed us to have patience. We gave him the ball today and he was very effective.”
The rest of his teammates – or Brown for that matter – may have not brought their shooting strokes to the Ryan Center on Wednesday, but Christion Thompson certainly did. He was the sole Ram to hit a 3-pointer, chipping in nine points and hitting all three of URI’s deep shots.
“Whenever those guys aren’t shooting well, I’m just trying to pick them up,” said the guard. “I wasn’t shooting well either, but we need to keep shooting. Can’t be discouraged by bad misses.”
It was his defensive play that likely had the most impact on the game. Thompson drew three charges and swiped the ball away a career-high five times.
It was really all about the frontcourts in the long-standing rivalry. The first combined 14 points of the game all came exclusively on lay-ups. Neither team hit a 3-pointer until 11 minutes had passed, and Langevine was actually the first player to successfully connect on a jumper.
The efficiency from the big men was needed. As guard-oriented as the Rams have tended to be in past few seasons, they may have to rely more on play in the post this season. Fatts Russell and Jeff Dowtin combined to go 0-for9 on 3-pointers and have only hit 11 in total this season.
“We can’t have poor shooting on the perimeter and poor play in the post,” Cox said. “[Harris and Langevine] came through for us in the clutch.”
A 9-1 Brown run in the second half drew the visiting squad within six points, but the sure-handed Dowtin was there to make sure the lead would not dwindle any farther. After hitting his first field goal of the game at the 11:47 mark of the second half, he sank four consecutive free throws to stretch the lead out back to double digits.
The Rams ran away with the game from there, thanks to sweltering defense and accurate free throw shooting. The Bears turned the ball over a season-high 19 times, and the Rams were money from the line down the stretch (16-22 overall).
The Rams will not return to the Ryan Center for a game until December 30. Until then, they are on the road against Providence, Holy Cross and West Virginia.