Boston University
1-4
Rhode Island
1-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston University | 32 | 38 | 70 |
| Rhode Island | 37 | 27 | 64 |
Late Run Propels Terriers Past Rhode Island, 70-64
November 26, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2011
Box Score | Irving's postgame comments
Sunday vs. Hofstra at URI (12 p.m.): Listen | Gametracker
KINGSTON, R.I. - Trailing by 11 with 14:58 remaining, the Boston University men's basketball team went on a 23-8 run over the next eight minutes to pull out a 70-64 victory at Rhode Island on Saturday evening during day two of the TicketCity Legends Classic. With the come-from-behind win, the Terriers snap the Rams' 32-game home win streak against non-conference opponents, which coincidentally began Dec. 22, 2006, against BU.
Sophomore D.J. Irving led the Terriers (1-4) with a career-high 21 points along with eight assists, five rebounds and three steals. Senior Darryl Partin added 20 points, while classmate Patrick Hazel posted 14 points, a team-high eight rebounds and three blocks to help the Terriers finish even in rebounds with URI, 34-34. Starting in his second consecutive game, sophomore Travis Robinson was the fourth man in double figures, contributing a personal-best 10 points.
Orion Outerbridge and Nikola Malesevic contributed 16 and 15 points, respectively, but only combined for 11 in the second half, as the Rams (1-4) shot just 31 percent after bringing a 37-32 lead into the locker room. Averaging a team-high 22.8 points per game, Jamal Wilson went 2-of-11 from the field to finish with eight points and nine rebounds.
The Terriers were a force under the basket, scoring 42 points inside the paint with 22 of them coming off the fastbreak. BU finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field for the first time this season at 28-of-56, while going 10-of-14 (.714) at the line.
A founding member of the ECAC North (precursor to the America East) before moving to the Atlantic 10 in 1981, Rhode Island grabbed an early seven-point advantage, 22-15, off a 3-pointer by Jonathan Holton at 10:09. Outerbridge's trey pushed the lead to eight (27-19) four minutes later.
Driving to the basket at will in the first half, Irving had 15 points, including seven during the Terriers' 11-3 spurt that was capped by Partin's jumper at 3:02 to pull the game even at 30-30. After Dominique McKoy's layup and a BU turnover, Mike Powell drained a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give the Rams the 37-32 halftime lead.
Wilson opened the second with the Rams' first eight points, including two made free throws at 14:58, to push URI ahead, 45-34. The Terriers though continued to attack the basket and scored eight of their next 12 points under the hoop to cut the deficit to one, 47-46, with 11:47 remaining.
The Rams scored four straight points, but then Partin drained a 3-pointer and the free throw following the foul to complete a four-point play. On the next possession, Hazel blocked McKoy's attempt, which led to Irving grabbing the rebound and driving across the court to give BU the lead for good.
After senior Matt Griffin nailed his lone 3-pointer of the game, Malesevic hit his second to keep the Terriers' lead at one, 57-56, with 4:41 remaining. On BU's next two possessions, Robinson scored on back-to-back layups, and then after two made URI free throws, he fed Hazel for the score.
In the final minute, BU went 5-of-7 at the line to prevent any chance of a URI rally and earn head coach Joe Jones' first win with the Terriers.
With the victory, BU will conclude the TicketCity Legends Classic on Sunday (Nov. 27) against Hofstra with tip-off set for 12 p.m. The two teams are meeting for the first time since the Pride left the America East following the 2000-01 season.
