December 9, 2008 | AP Press

KINGSTON, R.I. — Keith Cothran’s 14 points led five Rhode Island players in double-digits to rout New Hampshire 88-56 on Tuesday night.

Jimmy Baron and Delroy James added 11 each for Rhode Island. Kahiem Seawright and Lamonte Ulmer chipped in 10 points apiece.

New Hampshire (6-4) was led by Alvin Abreu with 13 points. Tyrece Gibbs finished with 12 for the Wildcats.

Rhode Island (7-3) snapped a 10-10 deadlock early in the game with a 12-0 run. The Rams shot 46.7 percent from the floor to lead 37-23 at the half. They opened the second half with a 9-0 spurt, holding New Hampshire scoreless for four and a half minutes. The Rams held a 46-33 edge in rebounds in the game.

The Wildcats shot only 35.1 percent from the floor and connected on a season-low 45.5 percent of their free throw attempts.

December 6, 2008 | AP Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I.– Weyinmi Efejuku scored a season-high 21 points and pulled down 8 rebounds as Providence edged in-state rival Rhode Island, 66-65, on Saturday.

Marshon Brooks added 14 points and Geoff McDermott hit two crucial free throws with 15 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Friars (6-3).

Jimmy Baron and Kahiem Seawright each scored 18 points and had 7 rebounds for Rhode Island, who never led by more than three and trailed for much of the second half.

The game was tight from start to finish, and neither team led by more than three during a fast-paced first period that featured 15 lead changes.

Baron had a chance to win the game for Rhode Island (6-3), but his baseline jumper with five seconds to go rimmed out.

December 3, 2008 | AP Press

BOSTON, MA – Kahiem Seawright had 19 points and seven rebounds to lead a balanced attack as Rhode Island defeated Northeastern, 85-72, on Wednesday.

Keith Cothran added 17 points, Jimmy Baron had 13 and three other players — Marquis Jones, Lamonte Ulmer and Delroy James — had nine apiece for the Rams.

Rhode Island (6-2) took command with a 16-0 run over the first 4:44 of the second half that turned a three-point halftime deficit into a 55-42 lead.

Northeastern (3-4) wouldn’t get closer than 10 points the rest of the way. The Rams led by as many as 19 points, the last time coming at 73-54.

Rhode Island shot 64 percent from the field while Northeastern could only muster 41 percent.

Vinny Lima led the Huskies with 14 points and 5 rebounds. Manny Adako added 11 points and 5 rebounds, while Nkem Ojougboh added 10 points and 4 rebounds.

November 29, 2008 | AP Press

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Dante Cunningham had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and No. 20 Villanova broke open a close game in the second half to beat Rhode Island 78-65 in the championship game of the Philly Classic on Saturday night.

Corey Fisher added 14 points, Scottie Reynolds scored 13 and Reggie Redding had 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the Wildcats (6-0). Antonio Pena also had 10 points.

Jimmy Baron scored 23 points and Keith Cothran added 12 for Rhode Island (5-2), which had its four-game winning streak snapped. The Rams haven’t defeated Villanova since Jan. 25, 1947.

Villanova led by as many as 10 in the first half and had a 40-33 edge at the half. A short jumper by Shane Clark gave the Wildcats a 53-40 lead with 14:20 to go, and a layup by Cunningham pushed the lead to 61-46 with ten minutes on the clock.

Rhode Island got within 63-54, but the Wildcats scored eight unanswered points to push the lead to 71-54 with 4:33 remaining.

November 29, 2008 | AP Press

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Jimmy Baron scored 20 points, including four crucial free throws in the last 12.6 seconds, as Rhode Island defeated Penn State 77-72 in the Philly Classic tournament on Friday.

Keith Cothran scored 18 points and Kahiem Seawright had16 for Rhode Island (5-1). Jamelle Cornley scored 23 points and Talor Battle had 15 for the Nittany Lions (5-1).

Rhode Island took a 72-67 lead on a free throw by Delroy James with 19.8 seconds to go, but Cornley made a layup for Penn State seven seconds later. Baron then made two free throws with 12.6 seconds remaining, and after Stanley Pringle missed a 23-footer, Baron ended the game with two more foul shots.

Baron’s shooting sparked Rhode Island to a 29-20 lead with 7:03 left in the first half. Penn State answered with an 11-2 run to tie the score 31-31, but a jumper by Cothran gave the Rams a 33-31 edge at the break.

November 25, 2008 | AP Press

KINGSTON, R.I. — Keith Cothran scored 22 points and Jimmy Baron added 18 as Rhode Island routed Hartford, 94-72, on Tuesday.

Cothran was 9 of 13 from the field, while Baron scored all his points from 3-point range, hitting 6 of 11.

Lamonte Ulmer and Kahiem Seawright added 11 each, and Delroy James had 10 for Rhode Island (4-1) .

Hartford was led by Joe Zeglinski, who scored 20.

Rhode Island put the game away early, going on a 26-10 scoring run on the way to a 47-35 halftime lead.

Rhode Island stretched the lead to 74-52 about halfway through the second half when Cothran hit a jumper, then followed up with a 3-point shot moments later.

Hartford (1-4) had trouble taking care of the ball, and Rhode Island took advantage by scoring 23 off 15 Hartford turnovers.

November 22, 2008 | AP Press

KINGSTON, R.I. — Keith Cothran scored a season-high 23 points as Rhode Island held off Virginia Commonwealth, 92-86, on Saturday night.

Jimmy Baron added 17 points, Kahiem Seawright had 17 and Delroy James scored 14 for Rhode Island (3-1).

The two teams were tied 43-43 at halftime. Rhode Island enjoyed its largest lead at ten points with 11:37 left in the second half.

Eric Maynor led Virginia Commonwealth (1-2) with a 22 points. Joey Rodriguez added 14.

The game featured 19 lead changes.

Virginia Commonwealth capped a 16-8 run midway though the second half on a jumper by Maynor to retake the lead at 77-76. Rhode Island, however, finished with a 16-9 spurt to secure the win.

Rhode Island scored 43 points off turnovers to Virginia Commonwealth’s 26.

Novemeber 20, 2008 | AP Press

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Keith Cothran scored 18 points, Jimmy Baron added 15 and Kahiem Seawright 13 as Rhode Island cruised to an 85-62 victory over Monmouth (N.J.) Thursday night.

The Rams (2-1) opened the game with an 8-0 run, featuring two layups by Cothran, and never trailed. Monmouth got to within 8-5 on a jumper and a 3-pointer by Mike Myers Keitt, but the Rams answered with a 7-0 run to take a 15-5 lead with 15:16 remaining in the half.

The Rams expanded their lead to 18 at halftime and led by as much as 37 points in the second half. Ten different players scored for Rhode Island.

Travis Taylor led Monmouth (0-3) with 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Myers Keitt added 13 for the Hawks and Yaniv Simpson had 12.

AP Photo

November 16, 2008 by Mike Boyle | A10collegehoops

Cameron Indoor Stadium 9,314 in Attendance

DURHAM, N.C. — In one of college basketball’s most electrifying arenas, a sold out Duke crowd witnessed Jimmy Baron put on his best J.J. Redick impersonation with a second half shooting clinic. Baron poured in 21 of his 24 points in the second half shooting 80% (8/10 3PTM-A) from beyond the arch.

Despite one of Baron’s best performances as a collegiate athlete, Duke hung around long enough to capitalize and sealed the victory 82-79 with Kyle Singler’s two free throws with 19.4 seconds left in the game.

In the winding moments of the game, URI coach Jim Baron took a timeout to draw up his last offensive scheme of the evening. There was no secret as to who would take the games most crucial shot. Mastermind coach K countered by assigning 6′9 Kyle Singler to guard Jimmy Baron who had been knocking in daggers from well beyond NBA range. Duke guards contested every shot Baron put up but to no avail, they just kept hitting the bottom of the net. In the outcome Jimmy Baron’s desperate heave fell short and skipped out of bounds. Duke prevailed continuing its home court dominance of 62 consecutive non-conference wins.

Duke and Rhode Island had played two times entering today’s contest. Both games came in the NCAA Tournament with the Blue Devils recording one-point victories in 1978 (63-62) and 1988 (73-72)

Duke coach Mike  Krzyzewski

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Hats off to Rhode Island who came in as a 15 point underdog and left within seconds of pulling off the year’s first top ten upset. The Rams led the majoriy of the game, credit given to coach Jim Baron who had his troops prepared for battle the moment they stepped off of the bus in Durham. His teams defensive effort held an ACC powerhouse to 4-19 from the field in the early going. URI’s full court press worked effectively and their front court won the rebounding battle (31-29). The Rams were never phased on the opponents rich history and tradition. The team played with heart and earned the respect of the Cameron Crazies. Unfortunately for URI there is no other home court like Cameron Indoor Stadium in the country. The Cameron Crazies never let up and cheered their team to victory.

Delroy James dominated the first half of this game. James logged in 34 minutes of action with 21 points and 8 rebounds.  Atlantic 10 teams better keep tabs on James, tonight he was a man amongst boys. James impressive outing showed his great versatility pushing the ball up the court and hitting a variety of mid range shots including one from 3pt range.

Duke guard Jon Scheyer one of the nation’s most underrated players scored 23 points and was a remarkable 13 of 13 from the charity stripe. Kyle Singler finished the game with 21 points and 5 rebounds. Duke trailed by as much as 12 in the first half and rallied in the final 5 minutes of the contest with an impressive seven conversions in their final seven posessions.

Mike Boyle can be reached at mboyle@a10collegehoops.com

Sunday, November 16, 2008 | AP

Today, Rhode Island and Duke meet in a non-conference matchup at Cameron Indoor Stadium.  This marks the first time the two schools have faced off in the regular season.  The Rams and the Blue Devils have met twice, with both games coming in the NCAA Tournament and both games being decided by a single point.

The Rams are just under .500 all-time in their first game played away from their home court/on the road.  Since basketball began competition at URI in 1903, the team has posted a 50-51 (.495) record in such games.

In 94 previous meetings against teams in the national poll, Rhode Island is 12-82.  Last season, the Rams lost to two ranked opponents (93-83 decision at #17 Dayton on Jan.9 and an 81-77 loss at home to #10 Xavier.)

URI has compiled a 5-16 record, all time, versus Atlantic Coast opponents.  The last win over an ACC opponent came on Nov. 28, 1987.

This afternoon’s matchup versus #5  Duke marks the earliest calender date that Rhody has faced a ranked opponent.

Duke has won 61 consecutive non-conference home games.  The Blue Devils won 191 of the last 194 non-conference home games.

Duke is 2-0 on the year, marking the eight straight year it has started with back-to-back wins.  The Blue Devils have a 37.0 points per game margin of victory through two games.

Tip Off 4:32 PM ET (ESPNU) Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314) Durham, N.C.