Rhode Island defeats Northeastern 85-77

Rhode Island Edges Out Northeastern in Thrilling Non-Conference Showdown

The Thomas M. Ryan Center was abuzz with energy on Wednesday night as the host Rhode Island Rams hosted the visiting Northeastern Huskies. In the end, it was a home victory for the Rams, as they edged out their opponents 85-77.

The game saw both teams trade baskets and neither could gain a clear advantage until halftime. At that point, Rhode Island held a slim 48-39 lead, setting up a thrilling second half with plenty of action on both ends of the floor.

As the clock ticked down, Northeastern found its footing, outscoring Rhode Island by seven points in the final minutes to set up an exciting conclusion. However, despite making several late push attempts, the Huskies were unable to close the gap and finish off a comeback victory.

The difference maker for Rhode Island was RJ Johnson, who poured in 19 points on 1-2 three-point shooting while achieving a stellar 75% field goal percentage overall. He was joined by Alex Crawford, who racked up nine rebounds, twelve points, one assist, and two steals to provide crucial support from the boards.

On the other side, Ryan Williams spearheaded Northeastern's offense with twenty-one points on five for seven three-point shooting while achieving a 75% field goal percentage overall. He was backed up by Xander Alarie who contributed eight rebounds and twelve points in the losing effort.

Looking at some key team statistics, Rhode Island showed an impressive 61.7% effective field goal percentage (eFG%) and shot 26.7% free throw rate, while also boasting a significant edge in offensive rebounding percentage (42.4%). Meanwhile, Northeastern had a slight edge in total points off turnovers with seventeen versus eighteen for the Rams.

This win marks an essential bounce-back victory for Rhode Island as they move forward with their non-conference schedule. The final result of 85-77 serves as another reminder that even the slightest margins can make all the difference when it comes to basketball at this level.