Men's Basketball
Runnin' Rams and Nevada Face Off in Second Round of NIT on Monday
March 20, 2010
KINGSTON, R.I. -- On Monday night, #2 seeded Rhode Island will host #6 Nevada in the second round of the 2010 National Invitation Tournament. This will mark the first time the two teams have met on the hardwood.
Tipoff time at the Thomas M. Ryan Center is set for 6 p.m. and the game can be seen live nationally on ESPNU. This marks the 14th appearance all-time for the Rams in the National Invitational Tournament. URI holds a 11-14 all-time record in NIT play.
The Rams (24-9) advanced to Monday's game after downing Northwestern, 76-64, on March 17. Lamonte Ulmer led Rhody with 17 points, while Akeem Richmond came off the bench to add 16 points (4-7 3FG). The Rhody bench outscored Northwestern's, 25-2, en route to the victory - URI's 11th all-time in NIT play.
The Wolfpack (21-12) upset #3 seeded Wichita State, 74-70, on March 17 in Kansas. Luke Babbitt - the 2010 WAC Player of the Year - scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half to pace the victory. Three others registered double-digits in the scoring colum - Armon Johnson had 15 points, Brandon Fields 11, and Dario Hunt 10.
Babbitt leads the team in scoring (22.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.0 rpg), while Johnson checks in at 15.8 points and 5.6 assists per outing. Fields (14.1 ppg) and Joey Shaw (10.4) round out the offensive leaders for head coach David Carter's squad.
Nevada is scoring at a 79.4 points per game clip and is 5-9 in true road games this season.
Fans can also tune into the Beltone New England Rams Radio Network on B101 (101.5 FM), with Steve McDonald and Don Kaull, beginning with the Cox pre-game show at 5:30 p.m.
