VIDEO: Rams Misery Continues; Flummoxed by Yale

KINGSTON – The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team found a new way to lose on Sunday afternoon, as a five-point play in the final 30 seconds sunk the Rams against Yale.

The Bulldogs (8-2) pulled out a 68-65 win, thanks largely to the play by guard Austin Morgan with 18 seconds remaining.

According to URI head coach Jim Baron, he was told by referees that Morgan’s 3-point shot – which went in – and a foul by Rayvon Harris were simultaneous. Harris bulldozed through a pick, committing an obvious foul, however, Baron and others on the coaching staff claimed it happened well before the shot.

With the ref’s call, the 3 by Morgan counted, plus forward Jeremiah Kreisberg got two foul shots. He sank both, to give Yale a three-point lead, 66-63.

On URI’s subsequent possession, freshman point guard Mike Powell ran the ball up and hit a layup with about eight seconds remaining. Yale’s Michael Grace hit two free throws after a foul with seven seconds remaining.

On the game’s final possession, Powell tried to shake a taller Yale defender for a 3, but couldn’t get open. He swung the ball to freshman forward Jonathan Holton by the elbow, who launched a 3 that clanged out.

Holton was run into on the play, but no foul was called. The contact didn’t seem to effect the shot, but a foul called on the clear-out would have given him three shots at the line regardless.

The loss negated good work all game long by the Rams in attacking the basket.

Nikola Malesevic led all scorers with 25, but fouled out with 38 seconds remaining on a charge. While he was an efficient 6-for-10 from the field, Malesevic missed seven of his 18 free throws. The Rams went 16-for-29 from the line, well within the final margin of victory.

URI also had little answer for Yale’s Greg Mangano and Kreisberg down low. The two combined for 30 points on 10-for-17 shooting, and finished 5-for-5 from the line. Morgan hit five 3-pointers en route to 19 points.

Jamal Wilson Suspended Indefinitely

Prior to Sunday’s game, the URI Athletics Department issued a release stating that senior guard and leading scorer Jamal Wilson had been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.

According to Baron, the decision was made this morning. No further explanation was provided.

As of 5 p.m., Wilson’s twitter contained no mention of the suspension. As of last night, Wilson expected to play, tweeting, “Can’t wait until tomorrow!”

At about 2:15 p.m., shortly after the URI game tipped off, Wilson retweeted a message at him from former URI basketball player Akeem Richmond – “no guts no glory”.

At about 5:25 p.m., he tweeted, “Fair? **** fairness. It gets u nowhere in this world. I know first hand.”

According to the university’s press release, his playing status will be reevaluated as the week goes on.

Preliminary Diagnosis: Buchanan Suffers High Ankle Sprain

The Rams will most likely be without the services of backup point guard T.J. Buchanan for the foreseeable future.

The freshman had to be helped off the court with 47 seconds remaining in the first half, after he and a Yale player got tangled up chasing after a loose ball.

According to Baron and university officials, the initial diagnosis on Buchanan is a high ankle sprain. Depending on the severity, a typical high ankle strain can take anywhere from six weeks to several months to heal, putting Buchanan at danger of missing the rest of the year.

Buchanan will undergo additional testing and x-rays in the next few days, Baron said.

Looming: Providence College

Things don’t get any easier for the Rams, as they host the Providence College Friars 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23.

The Friars have a gaudy 9-2 record this year, and beat Brown by 31 points on Dec. 5. The Bears beat the Rams earlier this year. The Friars sole losses are to Iowa State and Northern Iowa, and both games took place at an invitational in Texas.

The Rams will have two reinforcements for the PC game – transfers Andre Malone and Billy Baron. However, it is the first game action for both players, and it’ll come during an emotionally tense rivalry game for both schools.