An Attendee Watches URI Get CRUSADED
'Twas the night of a miserable, rainy Tuesday night in Kingston, RI and apparently the weather foreshadowed the result of the 7 pm URI-Valparaiso game that was being broadcasted on ESPN3. Taking a #24 AP ranking and a 5-1 record into Valparaiso, Indiana, URI were 3.5 point favorites in their first true road game of the season.
However, as a URI fan, you are obligated to invest all of your hope into the team so that they are able to disappoint you when each game concludes. Therefore, in the eyes of the Rhode Island faithful, the Rams were actually 100 point favorites over Valpo (Las Vegas doesn't publish these facts when it comes to betting on URI basketball games).
In the first half of the game, URI looked like they wanted nothing more than to prove that their only blemish on the season, their loss to #1 Duke was a fluke. Too bad their play did not persist in the second half.
Rather than maintaining their advantage on the glass due to their clearly superior athleticism, they allowed themselves to be out-hustled and out-muscled by some guy named Jubril Adekoya who looked surprised every time he scored, as well as a 6'11 Spaniard named Jaume Sorolla who looked he was fed whole animals during his youth.
Ultimately, URI was in the game until the end so they could do what they do best - break the hearts of the Rhode Island faithful. With the game staying between 1 to 3 point margins, All-American talent, Alec Peters took Hassan Martin and Kuran Iverson to school in the post to end the game in the dwindling minutes of the game. Lastly, down 65-62, URI's final possession ended with a solid air ball that never had a chance.
URI, say hello to a 5-2 record and permanent removal from the top 25.
