Rams End Season with 66-54 loss at UCF

March 21, 2011

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Delroy James scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds as Rhode Island dropped a 66-54 decision at UCF in the second round of the 2011 College Basketball Invitational.

James was 7-of-12 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. He also added an assist, a steal and a blocked shot in 30 minutes of play.

With the loss, the Rams finish the 2010-11 season with a 20-14 overall mark. It also signaled the final collegiate games for James, Marquis Jones, Ben Eaves and Will Martell. The four graduating seniors finish their careers as the winningest players to wear the Keaney Blue. The class of 2011 won 90 games over the last four seasons.

Rhody jumped out quickly, as James scored the first nine points for the team, as it took a 9-3 lead. UCF would rally back, going on a 12-5 push over the next five minutes, taking a 15-14 lead with 11:54 to play. But Rhody would respond with a 14-6 push, capped by an Orion Outerbridge 3-pointer, making it 28-21 with 5:59 to go. The Rams would take a 30-27 lead at the break.

In the second half, a Nikola Malesevic driving layup at the 18:17 mark made it 32-30. But the Knights went on a 15-3 run over the next seven-plus minutes, putting the game out of reach. UCF would build as much as a 14-point lead - at 59-45 with 5:04 left. A James dunk with 1:43 to play cut it to nine (61-52), but Rhody would get no closer.

Off the bench, Eaves scored eight points (3-4 FG; 2-3 3FG), while Outerbridge added seven points (3-5 FG; 1-2 3FG). Jones dished out a team-high four assists and Jamal Wilson tallied six points, four boards, two assists, and three steals.