Rhode Island (9-0) outscored Providence College (6-4) 41-28 in the second half, leading to a 69-63 victory for the Rams on Saturday. It’s the Rams’ first win over the Friars since 2019 and their first time receiving votes in the AP Poll since that same season.
Rhode Island started the game slow, falling behind 9-4 in the first few minutes of action. The Rams’ rim protection was subpar. Fifth-year Javonte Brown struggled to stay on his feet and continuously fell for ball fakes beneath the basket. Brown only played 14 minutes as URI head coach Archie Miller rolled with second-year David Fuchs for the majority of this game. Miller’s adjustments led to URI mounting their third second-half comeback of the season.
“Learning how to win is a hard thing to do, especially for a group that hasn’t won as much,” Miller said. “We refuse to cave in and say, ‘Ah, maybe it’s just not our day today.'”
Besides Rhode Island’s refusal to quit, the biggest difference between these two teams was Rhode Island’s bench. The reserves kept the Rams afloat as the starters struggled. Fourth-year Jaden House scored 14 points on 6 of 8 from the field, leading all players in points at the end of the first half. House has come off the bench in all but one game this season after starting every game for the Rams last season. House’s ability to convert difficult and-one plays provided Rhode Island with life. He ended with 18 points, five rebounds and three assists.
“Amazing, that’s all I can really say about it,” House said about the environment. “Best game I’ve ever played in my life”
House was one of many bench players who excelled. Rhode Island’s bench outscored the Friars 29-12, with Fuchs also serving as a standout off the bench. His strength around the rim and relentlessness on rebounds earned him a season-high 26 minutes. Fuchs converted multiple lobs throughout the second half, the most memorable being his dunk to cap off a 7-0 URI run that brought the Rams within one point with 12 minutes to go.
At times, Fuchs got caught in mismatches with talented fourth-year Bryce Hopkins, but Fuchs often held his own, forcing Hopkins to pick up his dribble a handful of times. Fuchs scored 9 points and added seven rebounds and two blocks.
“David continues to really bolster our team,” Miller said. “His added edge and physicality was really needed today.”
Hopkins looked like a player who recently returned from an ACL injury. He finished with four turnovers and just two assists. Hopkins and fourth-year Bensley Joseph led the Friars with 16 points each. Hopkins shot a woeful 6 of 15 from the field and 3 of 6 at the line. As a team, the Friars shot 1 of 10 from beyond the arc in the second half after shooting 4 of 10 in the first half. Providence also missed seven free throws, with multiple trips ending with two misses or missing the first of a one-and-one.
“URI did some great things, they played tough, they played physical, they did a great job on the offensive glass,” Providence head coach Kim English said. “We didn’t deserve to win.”
English was happy with the first 20 minutes of play but thought his team didn’t execute their game plan in the second half. English felt they could have left the Ryan Center with a win if they held fourth-year Sebastian Thomas in check.
“We were talking at halftime, and I was like, ‘I don’t care if Jaden House has a game going’, I’d love for Jaden House to keep scoring,” English said. “That team is at their best when Thomas is wheeling and dealing.”
The Friars held Thomas to two points in the first half, but in the second half, Thomas started to have his way. In 19 minutes, Thomas scored 17 points, dished out two assists and knocked down three 3-pointers. His last 3-pointer, taken well behind the line on the right wing, sealed the deal with just 24 seconds left. Thomas only sat twice this whole game. He played 38 minutes, including the final 14. In those 14 minutes Thomas had the best plus-minus run of any player, going plus-13, six points better than anyone else.
“Being at Albany last year helped my confidence,” Thomas said. “My first two years here I wouldn’t have shot that shot.”
Being at UAlbany gave Thomas the experience necessary to keep his head in the game, even after hitting the shot of his life.
“I kinda knew the game was over, but when there’s time on the clock, anything can happen,” Thomas said. “We still had to lock in for the last 20 seconds or something like that and we did, got stops and won the game.”
The victory moved the Rams to 17th in the Mid-Major Basketball Top 25 Poll. They also are receiving votes in the AP Poll. Thomas’ strong performance led to receiving Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors on Monday.
Despite the national attention, Miller knows the importance of returning to work. Up next, Rhode Island faces Brown University (6-3) at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday at the Pizzitola Center, with the game available on ESPN+.
A Rams win would secure the Ocean State Cup and mark the first time Miller has beaten Brown since he took the Rhode Island job.
“Hardest game of the year, no question about it,” Miller said about the upcoming game. “They have an edge in mentality, and they’ve beaten my butt these last two years.”
