Rams collapse in loss to Minutemen

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Sunday, February 20, 2011

GoLocalProv Sports Team

Thanks to a dreadful second half Saturday at home against Massachusetts, the Rams are still stuck in the middle of the pack in the Atlantic 10.

Rhode Island coughed up a sizeable halftime lead in a deflating, 66-60, loss to the Minutemen at the Ryan Center, dropping its conference record to 7-5 costing it a chance to pull to within half a game of fourth-place Richmond.

Anthony Gurley scored 14 of his 16 points during Massachusetts’ second-half rally. The Minutemen (14-11) trailed by eight at the break, but opened the second half on a 17-6 run and took a three-point lead on a dunk by Raphiael Putney with 11:26 remaining.

Massachusetts led by as many as 11 down the stretch before the Rams rallied. A free throw by Delroy James trimmed Rhode Island’s deficit to 59-56 with in the closing minutes, but the Minutemen hit seven free throws to ice the win.

Massachusetts has beaten Rhode Island (16-10) twice this season and is now 6-6 in conference play, trailing the Rams by just one game. James led Rhode Island with 15 points. Nikola Malesevic, Will Martell and Orion Outerbridge each finished with 10 points for the Rams.

Rhode Island will face another tough test Wednesday at Duquesne. The Dukes are 17-7 overall and 9-2 in the A-10.