2008 Woodie Awards
Men's basketball mauls Bears
Evan Crawley
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Sports
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11/16/07 - The University of Rhode Island men's basketball team battled back from an early deficit to top Brown University 75-61 in the 149th meeting between the two schools at the Pizzitola Center in Providence on Wednesday. The Rams have topped Brown in each of the two teams' last six meetings, as well as in 12 of the last 13. Rhody started sluggishly, falling behind 14-3 in the first four minutes of the game following a three-point barrage from the Bears' Mark McAndrew and Scott Friske.
"I don't know, we were kind of dragging in pregame and in the locker room, but the most important thing is to pick it up," senior Will Daniels said.
The Rams certainly did pick it up, responding with an 8-0 run of their own, following a 30-second timeout from Rams head coach Jim Baron and the substitution of senior Joe Mbang and sophomore Keith Cothran for junior Jimmy Baron and junior Jason Francis. Rhody took its first lead at the 4:57 mark on a tip slam from sophomore Lamonte Ulmer off a missed ally-oop from senior Parfait Bitee to Cothran, and as they did against Florida Atlantic, once they grabbed the lead, they never let go of it.
The bench was critical for the Rams in the contest, which outscored Brown's 32-14 thanks to 12 points from Cothran and 17 points from sophomore Lamonte Ulmer.
"I get to watch the starters and feed off them, then go out there with even more energy," Cothran said. "When coach puts us in the game, that's what he expects from us."
Cothran recorded three of the Rams' 11 steals on the game, and the two combined to help the Rams to turn 22 Brown turnovers into 35 points. The Bears managed eight points off nine Rhody turnovers in return.
"I think teams feel that once we push the ball that they have to push the ball, and that gets them out of their game," Daniels said.
A play that brought nearly all of the 2,775 fans at "The Pizza" to its feet came courtesy of an Ulmer throw down. Junior Kahiem Seawright picked up a loose ball around the Rams foul line and threw it ahead to a wide-open Ulmer streaking down the left center of the court. Ulmer chased down the ball, took a couple dribbles, and elevated two steps in from the Brown free throw line and unleashed a fierce windmill slam as he attacked the rim.
"I don't know, we were kind of dragging in pregame and in the locker room, but the most important thing is to pick it up," senior Will Daniels said.
The Rams certainly did pick it up, responding with an 8-0 run of their own, following a 30-second timeout from Rams head coach Jim Baron and the substitution of senior Joe Mbang and sophomore Keith Cothran for junior Jimmy Baron and junior Jason Francis. Rhody took its first lead at the 4:57 mark on a tip slam from sophomore Lamonte Ulmer off a missed ally-oop from senior Parfait Bitee to Cothran, and as they did against Florida Atlantic, once they grabbed the lead, they never let go of it.
The bench was critical for the Rams in the contest, which outscored Brown's 32-14 thanks to 12 points from Cothran and 17 points from sophomore Lamonte Ulmer.
"I get to watch the starters and feed off them, then go out there with even more energy," Cothran said. "When coach puts us in the game, that's what he expects from us."
Cothran recorded three of the Rams' 11 steals on the game, and the two combined to help the Rams to turn 22 Brown turnovers into 35 points. The Bears managed eight points off nine Rhody turnovers in return.
"I think teams feel that once we push the ball that they have to push the ball, and that gets them out of their game," Daniels said.
A play that brought nearly all of the 2,775 fans at "The Pizza" to its feet came courtesy of an Ulmer throw down. Junior Kahiem Seawright picked up a loose ball around the Rams foul line and threw it ahead to a wide-open Ulmer streaking down the left center of the court. Ulmer chased down the ball, took a couple dribbles, and elevated two steps in from the Brown free throw line and unleashed a fierce windmill slam as he attacked the rim.