Rhode Island
Rhode Island basketball loses 2 starters to injury and falls to Loyola-Chicago. Here’s how
After losing two key players early in the game, the Rhode Island Rams fell on the road to Loyola-Chicago, 81-77, Wednesday night.
URI guards Quentin Diboundje and Jamarques Lawrence both sustained ankle injuries early in the first half and the Ramblers made the most of their advantage, building a 10-point lead over the next seven minutes. The Rams answered by going on a 15-4 run as Cam Estevez and Sebastian Thomas each scored five points and David Fuchs added four during the stretch. Fuchs hit a turnaround jumper at the halftime buzzer to give the visitors a 39-38 lead at the break.
The Rams and Ramblers played a tight second half, but Francis Nwaokorie’s 3-pointer tied the score at 63-63 with six minutes to go, and Jalen DeLoach followed with a steal and dunk to put the Ramblers up by 3. Rhode Island was able to whittle the lead down to a single point four times in the final 4:22 to play, but couldn’t knot score again.
Thomas led the Rams with 20 points, six assists and three rebounds, extending his streak to seven straight games with 20 points or more. Javonte Brown had 16 points and five rebounds and Estevez matched his season high with 15 points. URI shot 66 percent (19-29) at the foul line compared to Loyola shooting 76 percent (19-25). The Rams shot 47 percent from the field, with 6 points off turnovers, while Loyola shot 50 percent, and scored 13 points off turnovers.
URI was without David Green (shoulder) for the third straight game and Tyonne Farrell (foot) missed his first game.
The Rams (13-4, 2-3 Atlantic 10) return to the Ryan Center to host Davidson on Saturday at 2 p.m. (ESPN+).