URI’s Mahkel Mitchell protects the rim vs. South Florida. (Photo courtesy Johnnie Izquierdo)

By KEVIN McNAMARA

At last.

As the final minutes ticked off the game clock at Mohegan Sun Saturday night, you could see the relief on the faces of the Rhode Island Rams basketball team.

Actually, you couldn’t miss it.

Rhody is happy: 1st win of season at hand pic.twitter.com/BPxIcGgZq5

— Kevin McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33) November 29, 2020

Led by Antwan Walker and assisted by several others teammates, the Rams took to strutting in celebration of a 84-68 win over South Florida. After failing to close out season-opening losses to Arizona State and Boston College, the Rams (1-2) closed the door nicely in this one.

URI blew out to a 36-20 halftime lead but its advantage melted to 63-53 inside of eight minutes left. However, a balanced attack led by star guard Fatts Russell (15 points) was too much for the Bulls (1-1).

LEADERS

*Fatts Russell: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists

*Jalen Carey: 12 points, 5 rebounds

*Jeremy Sheppard: 11 points, 5 assists

The balance of offensive production tonight was huge for Rhode Island. Specifically, the trio of guards in Russell (15), Shepherd (11) & Carey (12) combined for 38 points.

Opposing backcourts will have to pick their poison in terms of how to handle that 3-headed attack. #GoRhody

— A10 Talk (@A10Talk) November 29, 2020

QUICK HITTERS

*David Cox went with a slightly different starting 5 of Fatts Russell-Jeremy Sheppard-Malik Martin-Antwan Walker-Makhel Mitchell. The group helped give the Rams a strong start of 10-2 and led to a dominating 26-12 start.

*Rhody dominated with its defense in the first half. South Florida was held to just 20 points on 6-of-28 shooting. The Bulls managed just six assists on the night.

*Jermaine Harris entered the game at the 16:52 mark of the second half for his first action of the season. The junior big man missed the opening two games of the season with a foot injury and his absence was certainly felt. He’s further ahead than Makhi and Makhel Mitchell, the transfers from Maryland who struggled in the first two games. Harris hit one of his team’s four three-pointers and finished with six points in 11 minutes.

Courtesy of the Bubbleville folks, the URI bench celebrations in photo form pic.twitter.com/576KPYM4j3

— William Geoghegan (@RhodyWill) November 29, 2020

*The Rams continue to foul way too much (25 times) and gave up 18 points at the free throw line but they were aggressive on offense as well and made the Bulls pay. URI finished the game an impressive 30-of-35 (85.7 percent) from the free throw line.

NEXT UP: Rhody’s fourth game in five days at Mohegan Sun’s Bubbleville wraps up with a Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off game against San Francisco on Sunday (ESPN2). The game tips at 5:30 p.m.