Projo College Hoops

Rhode Islanders Joey Accaoui (2-of-9, 4 points) and Ben Crenca (2 points) both hit the scoreboard for Vermont...The second half blowout allowed Davis to give Johnnie Lacy extended minutes for the first time this season. The freshman guard still hasn't found a way to get his offensive game going but he did have three assists and played tight defense in 18 minutes...Vincent Council now has 16 assists and four turnovers on the season....Word is tickets are selling well for this Saturday's New England showdown with Boston College at the Dunkin' Donuts Center...The Big East was a collective 52-4 entering games last night and enjoyed another win over a ranked team when Cincinnati knocked off Maryland.

Last night's game was the fourth of 10 in a row to start the season away from home for the Catamounts. In fact, the team left Burlington on Saturday for a game at Rutgers on Sunday but won't return home until this Sunday after spending the coming weekend in Philadelphia for the Legends Classic.

"We're pretty good at home so it's hard to get anybody to come to our place," said Vermont coach Mike Lonergan. "It's been a problem for us for awhile."

Vermont will play 14 of the first 17 games on the road. Its only non-league games at home come against Quinnipiac and Delaware.

Kyle Wright showed some offensive spark for the first time as a Friar. He canned three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds in 18 minutes.

Wright came to PC as a noted junior college scorer. He's adjusted a bit slowly but Davis likes his potential and notes that time is a valued commodity with all new players.

"It's just a different level," he said. "When you look back at his career he just hasn't had the minutes and the experience. Now he steps onto a Big East stage. Just like a freshman, the first time they're on that free throw line and throw it off the backboard, that doesn't mean they're not a good free throw shooter. It's just a little different adapting to the game and the fast pace and the big arena."

Wright is an aggressive rebounder and strong defensive player, according to Davis.

"Kyle will be a really good weapon for us because he can step out and shoot with really good range," said Davis. "He just needs to shoot it when it comes to him. Plus he might be our most improved defensive player already. He goes after rebounds as hard as everybody.

PROVIDENCE - Looking to jump-start Sharaud Curry's season, Keno Davis chose to bring the fifth-year senior off the bench for the first time this year.

Curry responded with nine points and five assists in 23 minutes. Freshman Vincent Council started in Curry's spot. Curry entered the game after only 2:30 and didn't hit the scoring column at the 9:21 mark. He scored seven points in the opening half on 2-of-4 shooting and finished the game playing a team-high 23 minutes.

"I don't really know what to say," Curry said when asked about his struggles. "It was more mental than anything. Some things affected my game but I just had to put it behind me."

Curry was referring to an undisclosed illness that slowed him in the days leading up to PC's loss at Alabama. Curry went 0-of-9 from the field in the game, the first time in his PC career he's failed to score a field goal.

"Sharaud doesn't want to talk much about it but he was sick before the Alabama game and missed practice," said Davis. "He has struggled so to get him going and be able to bring him off the bench and give us a spark (was good)."

Curry is a career 41 percent shooter from the field and 36 percent shooter from the 3-point line. Entering last night's game, those numbers were down to 26 percent from the floor and 18 percent from the 3-point line.
"I'm not really worried about my shot," he said. "I'm at my best when the rest of my game is going, followed by my shot. I've been settling and just looking for the threes but when I get back to doing everything well, my shot will follow."

Rhode Island led all the way as it won it third straight, 75-58, over Stony Brook Tuesday night at the Ryan Center.

The Rams scored the first 10 points of the game and held the Seawolves (3-1) to only six field goals in the first half. Rhody led, 32-17, at the break.

Lamonte Ulmer had 16 points, Keith Cothran 15, Will Martell and Akeem Richmond 10 apiece for Rhode Island. Marc Rouse had 10 for Stony Brook.

By KEVIN McNAMARA

PROVIDENCE - So much for upsets.

After hearing loads of good things about about the Vermont Catamounts for a few days, the Providence Friars ended any upset dreams the visitors may have held early. PC raced to a 30-point halftime lead and cruised its way to a 106-64 romp.

Despite the lofty offensive output, PC's defense was the story of the game. Playing a stingy man-to-man and an aggressive, trapping press, the Friars may have put together their best defensive effort in Keno Davis' short tenure as head coach. The Catamounts were held to 36 percent shooting and turned the ball over a whopping 23 times.

PC (4-1) bounced back from its loss at Alabama with a well-rounded offensive show. When the game was still in doubt, Marshon Brooks (24 points) and Jamine Peterson (20 points, 5 rebounds) teamed up to dominate.

In an up-and-down, free-wheeling second half, the Friars saw Kyle Wright (13 points, three treys) take up the offensive slack and newcomers like Duke Mondy (8 points) and James Still (7 boards) continue to show promise.

The Catamounts (2-2) were led by impressive senior forward Marqus Blakely. He finished with 24 points and 10 boards. PC is back in action this Saturday against long-time New England rival Boston College.

URI, thanks to a terrific effort from its defense, leads Stony Brook, 32-17, at the half here at the Ryan Center.

Rhode Island has held Stony Brook to only six field goals. The Rams also have forced 12 turnovers, while committing only three themselves. URI has eight steals.

Lamonte Ulmer leads the Rams with nine points and Will Martell has eight.

PROVIDENCE - The Providence Friars have jumped all over the Catamounts of Vermont and are leading at the half, 56-26.

PC is playing some of its best man-to-man defense in years. Vermont is having major problems with PC's press (13 turnovers) and team speed. PC has used 11 players and is dominating. The Friars are shooting 51 percent with Marshon Brooks (17 points) and Greedy Peterson (10 points) leading the way.