SOUTH KINGSTOWN – The best start for the University of Rhode Island men's basketball team in more than 70 years now includes a satisfying rivalry win.The Rams delivered the goods down the stretch to stop Providence, a program looking to extend its recent dominance in this series.Sebastian Thomas capped his huge second half with a steal and a following 3-pointer. Both came inside the final minute and were critical in a 69-63 triumph, one played in front of a sold-out Ryan Center.Thomas poked the ball away from Jayden Pierre in the lane and had it back in his hands as the shot clock ran down at the other end. He stepped back on the right wing and drilled a 3-pointer over Bryce Hopkins, making it a 67-61 game with 23.8 seconds left. That brought the loudest roar of the afternoon from the 7,685 fans on hand, one they’ve waited to turn loose since URI’s last win in this series in December 2019.“Right now my confidence is at an all-time high,” Thomas said. “And I’m making shots like that.”David Green’s pair of buckets inside helped push the Rams to the finish. It was a 60-59 lead when he dropped a hook in the lane and another from the right post. URI dodged what would have been the tying 3-pointer by Corey Floyd Jr. and iced the game when Jamarques Lawrence hit a pair of free throws with 9.5 seconds left.“When you have to run things in the second half and the pressure is on, you better be able to handle the ball,” URI coach Archie Miller said. “I think Sebastian – and, at times, Jamarques – can do that.”The Friars were locked up on the perimeter over the final 20 minutes, closing 1-for-10 from 3-point range and missing some key free throws. The Rams used a 6-0 run to take the lead for good on a Thomas layup with 5:29 left. Bensley Joseph rimmed out the front end of a 1-and-1, Green blocked a paint shot attempt by Hopkins and Jaden House’s floater forced Providence to call timeout in a 60-55 game with 4:25 left.“We’re still learning the value of possessions,” Providence coach Kim English said. “To be constantly in it – to be dialed in.”The Friars stayed in front from early in the first half until late in the second. URI finally solved some sagging paint defense by using David Fuchs off the bench, and his hard jam off a lob from Thomas with 13:09 left was an example of the adjustment the Rams made at halftime. They managed just 12 points in the opening 20 minutes but collected 22 after the break, part of their 51.7% shooting from the field.“We had to get downhill,” Thomas said. “In the first half I went (0-4) – I was forcing my floaters a little bit. In the second half I ended up hitting the roller a lot.”Providence (6-4) controlled the tempo masterfully in the opening half, shutting URI out on the fast break and limiting the Rams to 34.4% shooting. House racked up 14 points and was 6-for-8 from the field – his eight teammates who saw action could only match that total and shot 5-for-24. The Friars built a double-digit lead on three different occasions and took a 35-28 margin into the locker room.“They don’t give you a lot of assists,” Miller said. “They don’t give you a lot of threes. They’re very good defensively in terms of eliminating the baskets you usually get.”URI (9-0) was coming off an 84-78 grinder against Yale, a team that won a game in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Providence snapped its three-game losing streak with an 83-64 win over BYU in the Big East-Big 12 Battle as Hopkins returned 11 months after a major left knee injury. The Rams were able to extend their form here while the Friars missed out on a nonconference chance to build a postseason resumé.“We’ve got to flush this,” English said. “We’ve got to get better. Some of the warts from the BYU win kind of showed today.”URI has a trip to Brown on deck after winning for just the third time in this series since December 2009. The Rams have shrugged off two disappointing seasons under Miller and look confident through the opening month of the season. The Bears figure to present another stiff test on the East Side.“In the summer I knew our group was different,” House said. “I just knew. For us to be able to show everybody else, it feels good.”bkoch@providencejournal.comOn X: @BillKoch25

Rhode Island basketball defeats Providence in yearly in

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team achieved its best start in over 70 years, highlighted by a thrilling rivalry victory. The Rams executed impressively in the final moments to overcome Providence, a team seeking to maintain its recent edge in this matchup. Sebastian Thomas concluded his outstanding second half with […]

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team achieved its best start in over 70 years, highlighted by a thrilling rivalry victory.

The Rams executed impressively in the final moments to overcome Providence, a team seeking to maintain its recent edge in this matchup.

Sebastian Thomas concluded his outstanding second half with a pivotal steal and a subsequent 3-pointer. Both plays came within the last minute and were crucial in securing a 69-63 victory, witnessed by a packed crowd at the Ryan Center.

Thomas dislodged the ball from Jayden Pierre in the lane and retrieved it as the shot clock wound down. He retreated to the right wing and nailed a 3-pointer over Bryce Hopkins, making the score 67-61 with 23.8 seconds remaining. This drew the greatest cheer of the day from the 7,685 spectators, a celebration they had held back since URI last claimed victory in this series back in December 2019.

Sebastian Thomas, left, and his URI teammates celebrate Saturday's victory over Providence in Kingston.

“Right now, my confidence is at an all-time high,” Thomas remarked. “And I’m hitting shots like that.”

David Green’s two close-range baskets helped the Rams secure their victory. With a 60-59 advantage, he netted a hook shot in the lane followed by another from the right post. URI avoided what could have been a game-tying 3-pointer from Corey Floyd Jr. and sealed the win when Jamarques Lawrence converted two free throws with 9.5 seconds remaining.

“In the second half, when things got intense, you need to be adept at handling the ball,” remarked URI coach Archie Miller. “I believe Sebastian – and occasionally, Jamarques – are capable of that.”

The Friars struggled from beyond the arc as they finished 1-for-10 from 3-point territory in the final 20 minutes, missing crucial free throws. The Rams established a permanent lead with a 6-0 run capped by a Thomas layup with 5:29 to play. Bensley Joseph missed the front end of a 1-and-1, Green rejected a shot by Hopkins in the paint, and Jaden House’s floater prompted Providence to call a timeout in a 60-55 contest with 4:25 left.

“We are still grasping the significance of possessions,” said Providence coach Kim English. “We need to remain focused.”

URI's David Green (23) defends against Providence's Bryce Hopkins during Saturday's confrontation at the Ryan Center.

The Friars maintained an early lead throughout the first half until late in the second. URI eventually adjusted to the Friars’ sagging defense by utilizing David Fuchs off the bench; his powerful dunk off a lob from Thomas at 13:09 showcased the adjustments made during halftime. The Rams had only 12 points in the first half but bounced back with 22 after the break, contributing to their 51.7% shooting percentage.

“We needed to reach the rim more,” commented Thomas. “I was 0-for-4 in the first half – I was pushing my floaters too much. In the second half, I ended up assisting much better.”

Providence (6-4) effectively controlled the game’s pace during the first half, preventing URI from scoring in transition and limiting the Rams to a shooting percentage of 34.4%. House amassed 14 points, going 6-for-8 from the field – his eight teammates managed only to match that total with a 5-for-24 shooting performance. The Friars constructed a double-digit lead on three separate occasions, heading into the locker room with a 35-28 edge.

“They limit assists effectively,” Miller noted. “They hinder your usual scoring opportunities quite well.”

URI's Tyonne Farrell makes a pass against the Providence defense in Saturday's game at the Ryan Center.

URI (9-0) had just come off a challenging 84-78 game against Yale, a team that succeeded in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Providence broke a three-game losing streak with an 83-64 victory over BYU in the Big East-Big 12 Battle, marked by Hopkins’ return after a serious left knee injury 11 months ago. The Rams continued their strong play here while the Friars missed an opportunity to enhance their nonconference postseason chances.

“We need to move past this,” English said. “We must improve. Some issues that appeared in the BYU win became evident today.”

Jaden House celebrates after the win against PC

URI looks forward to a match against Brown after achieving only their third win against this opponent since December 2009. The Rams have overcome two underwhelming seasons under Miller and appear confident as they start the season. The Bears are expected to offer another tough challenge on the East Side.

“I sensed our group was different during the summer,” House stated. “I just knew it. It feels good to demonstrate that to everyone else.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25