Mountaineers Roughed-Up by Rams

Matchup
FG Made-Attempted	18-56	29-62
Field Goal %	32.1	46.8
3PT Made-Attempted	5-25	5-17
Three Point %	20.0	29.4
FT Made-Attempted	29-37	20-33
Free Throw %	78.4	60.6
Total Rebounds	42	40
Offensive Rebounds	10	10
Defensive Rebounds	32	30
Team Rebounds	0	0
Assists	10	17
Steals	1	6
Blocks	1	2
Total Turnovers	15	9
Personal Fouls	28	28
Technical Fouls	1	4
Flagrant Fouls	0	0

The West Virginia Mountaineers (6-4) fell to the Rhode Island Rams 83-70 at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame game. WVU was without their star forward Sagaba Konate, who in the previous game had seven blocks against Pitt, and as a result Rhode Island scored 42 points in the paint. The Mountaineers got off to a fast start in the second half; however, the WVU offense got stagnant mid-way through the second half in the loss.

The Rams won the opening tip and immediately scored with a lay-up from Jeff Dowtin on their way to the early 6-1 lead.

Rhode Island never lead by more than six in the first half, in what was seemingly a free throw contest in the first twenty minutes of the game.

Despite shooting 34.5% (10-29) from the field and 21.4% (3-14) from three-point range, West Virginia only trailed by two, 45-43, at the half. The Mountaineers were able to stay within striking distance by going 20-24 from the free throw line, taking care of the ball (7 turnovers) and out-rebounding Rhode Island 23-18.

West Virginia started the second half going down to Logan Routt on the post and it paid off tying the game at 45. Rhode Island scored five unanswered points before the Mountaineers scored eight straight to take their first lead of the game.

West Virginia guard Brandon Knapper hit a three to give the Mountaineers their biggest lead of the game 55-52 early in the second half.

WVU was shooting 6-12 from the field and holding onto a two-point lead after a Wes Harris turnaround jump-shot from the baseline. However, Rhode Island regained the lead on a wide-open lay-up from Tyrese Martin at the 10:28 mark and the Mountaineers went on to shoot 2-15 to finish the game on their way to a to a 13-point loss.