2008 Woodie Awards
URI Rams, PC Friars renew rivalry tonight at Ryan Center
Evan Crawley
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: Sports
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12/04/07 - The University of Rhode Island and Providence College men's basketball teams will lace it up for the 119th time in history tonight with PC holding a 65-52 lead in the series.
However, this time the Rams hold the home court advantage, unlike last year when the Friars trounced the Rams 95-66 last Dec. 3 at the Dunkin Donuts Center.
The Rams hold a one-game advantage in the 55 games that have been played in Kingston, that last coming in 2005 when Rhody edged PC 77-69 behind Dawan Robinson's 11 straight points to close the game.
One thing that stands out about this game is that the two teams appear to be very talented and evenly matched. A good indication of this is to look at the only common opponent between the two teams thus far, Boston College.
The Eagles handed the Rams their only loss of the season, while the Friars were able to down Boston College in overtime in a back-and forth game.
In the PC/Boston College game, PC held a big lead at halftime, 49-34, just as the Rams did. However Rhody was unable to hold on as the Eagles stormed back to take a six-point lead with just over one minute remaining.
The difference between the Rhody/BC game was a few shots that fell in the Eagles' favor, yet in the match up with PC it was the Friars who saw the shots fall.
Jeff Xavier and Wayinmi Efejuku drilled deep and contested threes in the final 1:05 of the game to force overtime. Even with arguably its best player Geoff McDermott on the bench with five fouls, the Friars still found a way to win.
That is what separated the each team from Boston College and that is what will separate the Rams and Friars tonight: the intangibles.
Both teams are obviously very talented as evident by their records, yet most likely this game will boil down to a late game run, an extra hustle play or even whoever has the last possession.
Last year the Rams were torched by the speed and quickness of point guard Sharaud Curry and the strength and skill of center Herbert Hill. However, Hill has graduated and Curry is out nursing a leg injury.
However, this time the Rams hold the home court advantage, unlike last year when the Friars trounced the Rams 95-66 last Dec. 3 at the Dunkin Donuts Center.
The Rams hold a one-game advantage in the 55 games that have been played in Kingston, that last coming in 2005 when Rhody edged PC 77-69 behind Dawan Robinson's 11 straight points to close the game.
One thing that stands out about this game is that the two teams appear to be very talented and evenly matched. A good indication of this is to look at the only common opponent between the two teams thus far, Boston College.
The Eagles handed the Rams their only loss of the season, while the Friars were able to down Boston College in overtime in a back-and forth game.
In the PC/Boston College game, PC held a big lead at halftime, 49-34, just as the Rams did. However Rhody was unable to hold on as the Eagles stormed back to take a six-point lead with just over one minute remaining.
The difference between the Rhody/BC game was a few shots that fell in the Eagles' favor, yet in the match up with PC it was the Friars who saw the shots fall.
Jeff Xavier and Wayinmi Efejuku drilled deep and contested threes in the final 1:05 of the game to force overtime. Even with arguably its best player Geoff McDermott on the bench with five fouls, the Friars still found a way to win.
That is what separated the each team from Boston College and that is what will separate the Rams and Friars tonight: the intangibles.
Both teams are obviously very talented as evident by their records, yet most likely this game will boil down to a late game run, an extra hustle play or even whoever has the last possession.
Last year the Rams were torched by the speed and quickness of point guard Sharaud Curry and the strength and skill of center Herbert Hill. However, Hill has graduated and Curry is out nursing a leg injury.