Men's Basketball Defeats Saint Louis 69-61 at Home

Feb. 14, 2009

Box Score |  Notes |  Photo Gallery 

Post-game press conferences: Head Coach Jim Baron | Stevie Mejia | Lamonte Ulmer

KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhode Island men's basketball team (18-8, 7-4) took down Saint Louis 69-61 Saturday at the Ryan Center to collect its sixth win in its last seven games.

Junior Lamonte Ulmer scored a game-high 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting. Ulmer scored 15-or-more points for the third time this season. In those contests, URI is 3-0. The URI forward scored 12 of his 18 points in the first half.

"Lamonte (Ulmer) played very well today," said head coach Jim Baron. "He is an individual that plays with a lot of energy. He gives us a spark that really gives us an edge."

Seniors Kahiem Seawright and Jimmy Baron also reached double-figures in scoring as they chipped in with 12 and 11 points, respectively. In 24 of Rhode Island's 26 games this season, three Rams have reached double-figures. Rhody's record in those contests is 17-7.

Seawright also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

As a team, URI outscored SLU 12-0 in fast break points and tallied 16 points off of 20 Billiken turnovers

"We made a couple of adjustments with our pressure," Baron said. "We attacked the bucket and really did a nice job turning them over."

Rhody guards Stevie Mejia and Marquis Jones each had five assists apiece. Mejia also scored six points off the bench.

"I thought Stevie (Mejia) did a great job coming off the bench," Baron said. "He really made some key shots for us."

Mejia's five assists equaled a career-high (5 vs. Xavier - Jan. 15).

"Marquis Jones and I work together every practice," Mejia said. "He's a great guard and he's teaching me a lot along the way."

Saint Louis (15-10, 6-5 Atlantic 10 Conference), which had its four-game winning streak snapped, never held the lead.

The Billikens trailed by seven at the half (32-25). Coming out of the locker room, SLU trimmed the URI lead to five with 19:17 to go in the game, but Rhody responded with a six 8-0 run over the next four and a half minutes to take a 13 point lead with 15:47 to go.

From that point, SLU would not get any closer than eight for the remainder of the game.

Rhode Island returns to action on Wednesday as it travels to Massachusetts to take on the Minutemen. Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m. Steve McDonald and Don Kaull will broadcast the game live on the Rams Radio Network (WHJJ 920 AM; WJZS 99.3 FM).