Rhode Island hung with two-time defending national champion and preseason No. 3 Connecticut through the first half of the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Game. However, the Huskies pulled away in the second half to take a 102-75 win Monday. UConn started the game scoring hot, hitting its first four field goal attempts and seven of the first 10 shots overall to take a 16-10 lead into the first timeout. Guard Solo Ball had seven points and Alex Karaban added five in the first few minutes. Rhody center Javonte Brown kept Rhody close, scoring eight of the team’s first 10 points before the first timeout. Rhody surged out of the timeout, going on a 9-3 run. A Jamarques Lawrence 3-pointer started the run, which included a pair of Cam Estevez baskets and a David Green jumper in the paint. By the second media timeout, the Rams had tied the score, 19-19. Coming out of the second timeout, UConn capitalized on a sloppy stretch for the Rams. URI went 0-for-5 from the floor with five turnovers as the Huskies went on a 7-0 lead to open a 26-19 lead. Lawrence hit his second 3-pointer to snap the drought and get Rhode Island back within four points. The Lawrence 3-pointer sparked a 10-0 Rhody run that was capped by a David Green 3-pointer that put URI ahead, 29-26. The Rams maintained a slight lead into the next media break, with two Tyonne Farrell free throws giving the Rams a 32-30 lead under the four-minute mark. UConn ended the half making its final six shots from the floor, helping the Huskies end the period on a 14-8 run. The stretch included back-to-back 3-pointers by Liam McNeeley and Karaban, which helped UConn take a 44-40 lead into halftime. The second half was all UConn, as the Huskies shot 70 percent from the field (14-for-20) over the first 11 minutes of the half. Rhode Island could not keep pace, as the deficit reached 22 points at 79-57. UConn shot 46 pecent from the arc (13-of-28), using long range shots to spread the floor. Solo Ball (18 points) and Aidan Mahaney (17 points) led the way. Inside the Box Score Center Javonte Brown led Rhode Island with a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Six of his rebounds came on the offensive end, helping URI grab 18 offensive boards on the night. Rhode Island had four players in double figures, as Jamarques Lawrence had 11 points while David Green and Cam Esteves each scored 10 points Forward Tyonne Farrell had a strong all-around game, scoring seven points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out five assists. The freshman was in the starting lineup. Forward David Fuchs had nine points and six rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench. The Rams shot 25-of-35 from the free throw line, including 10-for-13 in the first half. Javonte Brown was 6-for-7 from the stripe. Rhody shot 40 percent from the perimeter. Jamarques Lawrence was 2-for-4, while forwards David Fuchs (1-for-1) and Drissa Traore (1-for-2) both made one. UConn head coach Dan Hurley was Rhode Island’s head coach from 2012-18 and won an Atlantic 10 championship in 2017 and a regular-season title in 2018. Rhode Island played without point guard Sebastian Thomas (concussion). What’s Next Rhode Island officially opens the 2024-25 season against Fairfield on Monday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. The game is part of a doubleheader with the URI women’s team, which hosts Stonehill at 5:30 p.m. Categories: Sports