UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Playing their fourth game in five days and coming off an emotional win played a factor, but ultimately the University of San Francisco men's basketball team just could not get the stops it needed as Rhode Island defeated the Dons 84-71 on Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
"I think Friday's game had more an effect than the four games in five days," said
Todd Golden. "We tried to guard against that happening but Friday's game was really emotional. But I don't want to take anything away from Rhode Island, they played harder than us and they are a really good team, a tournament team. What we need to do moving forward is sustain the energy we brought Friday."
Rhode Island (2-2) scored the game's opening points on a layup by senior guard Fatts Russell and the Rams never looked back. Russell was as good as advertised. the Cousy Watch List player had a 21 to lead the Rams, he was one of four players in double figures for URI. Also, in double figures for Rhode Island was Antwan Walker with 14, while Jalen Carey and Ishmael Leggett had 11 each.
The Dons (2-2) were led by
Jamaree Bouyea's game-high 22. Bouyea overcame a sluggish start to finish with his second 20-point game of the season. The Dons' guard also had five assists, and four rebounds. For the week, USF's point guard averaged 19.0 points per game, while shooting 51.9 percent from the field, while averaging 5.25 assists per game.
"I thought Jamaree got off to a little of a slow start, after the first couple of medias (timeouts) he really picked it up," said Golden when talking about Bouyea. "He was the only reason we were in the game to be honest. I'm really proud of his growth, he's turning into an elite player. He's the guy we can count on nearly every night to have a great effort and win his position. I thought he gave Russell everything he could in terms of trying to keep us in the game. He's what our program is about really, a guy like Jamaree who came in with no other Division I offers and how he's one of the best point guards in the country."
Dzmitry Ryuny finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the week. The 19 points is a new career-high which was set in the win over Towson.
Khalil Shabazz caught fire late to finish with 15, all coming after the intermission.
USF opened the contest 3-for-19 from the field and 1-for-8 from beyond the arc. The sluggish start allowed Rhode Island to seize control of the contest. Foul trouble helped the Rams keep it. The Dons were whistled for 25 personal fouls, Shabazz had three midway through the first period which kept him from getting into an offensive rhythm. Both
Taavi Jurkatamm and Ryuny fouled out. From the charity stripe, the Rams went 34-for-40, in the second half they were 25-for-29.
But the disparity in free throws wasn't the difference. USF shot just 29.4 percent in the first half, going 10-for-34, including a 4-for-16 stretch from beyond the arc.
The closest USF would get to the Rams game at the 7:30 mark in the first half, when Ryuny hit a pair of triples, and Bouyea finished a three-point play and on the following possession hit a three at the corner.
But the Rams responded closing out the half on a 18-9 run to go into the locker room leading 38-28. Out of the break the Dons was more in tune, shooting 36.6 percent from the field, but the 3-point field goals just didn't fall. The Dons were 7-for-24 from beyond the arc after the break and finished the game 11-for-40.
The Dons return to the pacific time zone but will have one more road contest before they make their 2020-21 home debut. On Wednesday, USF will travel to Reno, Nev., to take on the Wolf Pack at the Lawlor Center. That game is slated for a 6:00 p.m. tip. It will be streamed on the Mountain West Network.
Pat Olson will have the call on KNBR 1050-AM.
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