Projo College Hoops

Senior Kahiem Seawright helped ensure that his college career will continue for at least one more game, as he scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half to lead the Rams to a 68-62 victory at Niagara in the first round of the NIT.

URI moves on to a second-round game against the winner of the Penn State-George Mason game, taking place right now in State College, Pa.

Rhode Island was certainly not crisp on offense, committing 21 turnovers and making just 2 of 9 3-point shots. But the Purple Eagles were awful on offense, going 7 of 28 from 3-point range and shooting 35.6 percent overall. URI erased a seven-point second-half deficit by exploiting their size advantage on Niagara, and Seawright was a big part of that. In addition to his game-high points total, Seawright had 10 rebounds. He and fellow senior Jimmy Baron were a combined 10 for 10 from the foul line in the final two minutes of the game.

After being outrebounded in the first half, the Rams dominated Niagara on the boards after the break.

A key moment in the game came with three minutes left, and URI ahead, 53-51. Niagara's Anthony Nelson missed the front end of a one-and-one; Jimmy Baron grabbed the rebound and passed to an open Keith Cothran, who picked up the layup and a foul. Cothran converted the 3-point play to give Rhody its largest lead to that point, 56-51. Rhode Island was basically in control from that point on.

Baron had 20 points, and senior Jason Francis had a season-high 8 points off the bench.

Guard Anthony Nelson had 14 points to lead Niagara, which got just 4 points off the bench.

 Tags  NIT Niagara URI

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