URI went 0-3 against the Minutemen this season, losing the three games by 5, 3 and 4 points, respectively. But none was more frustrating than last night's contest that ended the Rams' season, as well as Xavier Munford's career.
The game was relatively close throughout the first half, but it was Munford who shined brightest in the first 20 minutes. X was perfect from every spot on the floor--5-5 from the field (3-3 from three-point land) and 3-3 from the free throw line until the 2:09 mark of the first half. Munford, who wasn't named to any of the three all-Atlantic 10 teams, was clearly sending a message to those who left him off. The conference's 5th-leading scorer (16.9 per game) finished the first half with 18, and the Rams lead 37-29.
The second half opened with a T.J. Buchanan turnover followed by a UMass miss. EC Matthews, who was quiet in the first half, nailed a three-pointer in transition to give the Rams their largest lead of the night, 40-29.
That was the high point of the for Rhode Island, however, as the Minutemen continued to chip away ever so slightly. Even though the Rams were up by 9 just inside the 10-minute mark, 55-46, it was clear UMass had gained some momentum back, as Munford went cold and Matthews's half-opening three proved to be an aberration.
The Rams went SEVEN MINUTES (the 9:50-2:45 marks, to be exact) without scoring, not a free throw, not anything, and UMass took the lead for good with 2:25 to go after two made free throws for Chaz Williams to make it 58-56.
Williams, like Munford, had some gears to grind as well in terms of a snub. Jordair Jett of Saint Louis had been named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year earlier in the week, an award many, myself included, thought Williams deserved. It wasn't a great night statistically speaking for Williams, who finished just 3-12 from the field for 11 points, and had just three assists, but he essentially won the game for UMass with a three after crossing up a Rams defender with 1:53 to go to make it 61-56. It's a bold comparison, but the cross-up kinda reminded me of this:
While technically speaking the game wasn't over, if you've been paying any attention to URI this year, you knew that a game coming down to free throws was all but over. Rhody is ranked 317th (out of 351) in the nation in free throw percentage, at 65.3%. Last night was no exception, and in fact just made it worse. 11-23 from the line (including 1-4 from Matthews and 2-6 from Biruta), compared to 28-36 for the Minutemen. And there in lied the difference. With Gilvydas Biruta in foul trouble throughout, as well as injuries to Hassan Martin and T.J. Buchanan, the Rams simply had no answer for the more experienced Minutemen in the second half.
And so ends the 2013-2014 basketball season at the University of Rhode Island, with a record of 14-18. The Rams improved by 6 wins from a year ago, when they went 8-21 in Dan Hurley's first year at the helm. I've made the comparison before, but look at Derek Kellogg at UMass: his teams won 12 games each of his first two years there, and only made it to 15 by Year 3. And look where the Minutemen are today. Patience Patience Patience. There was lots of negative feedback in the Twittersphere last night, the usual "oh classic Rams," yada yada yada.
I could keep preaching the "patience" doctrine, or I could tell you the sky is falling again, but we're still a ways a way from next year. In terms of that next season, that's something we'll be discussing that as the months go on. But I'll leave you with this: 40% of the Atlantic 10 all-rookie team was comprised of Rams (Matthews, Martin). Draw your own conclusions.
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