Rams Down Santa Clara in Orlando Classic, Will Face Georgia Tech

Rhode Island's stifling defense held Santa Clara scoreless for close to 10 minutes to start the second half as the Rams' cruised to a 66-44 victory on Saturday in the second game of the Orlando Classic.
  
As good as the Rams' D was, Rhody also put forth a great shooting effort on the offensive side of the floor.  URI connected on 53.2% (25-47) for the game, including close to 60% in the first half.

After holding a 35-27 lead at the break, Rhode Island broke it open with 14 unanswered points.  All 13 players saw action on the afternoon and 10 scored.

Inside the Box Score and Beyond

• E.C. Matthews again led all scorers with 19 points.  His line was efficient - 7-for-9 from the floor, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.  He also grabbed three boards and tallied an assist and a steal in 29 minutes.  
  
• Jared Terrell added 13 points, knocking down 2-of-5 attempts from 3-point land to go along with two rebounds, two assists and three steals.
  
• Biggie Minnis had his best game of the season, tallying seven points, a game-high five assists (two turnovers) and two rebounds in 24 minutes.
  
• Overall, eight different Rams tallied an assist, totaling 14 for the game.
  
• Frontcourt mates Hassan Martin (3-4), Earl Watson (2-3), and Gilvydas Biruta (4-4) combined to shoot 9-of-11 from the floor while grabbing 10 rebounds.  Biruta finished with eight points, Martin six, and Watson five.
  
• Rhody forced 13 Santa Clara turnovers and scored on all but one of them.  The Rams had 24 points off turnovers on the afternoon.
  
• The Rams doubled the Broncos up in the paint, 32-16, and used 13 offensive rebounds to score 14 second chance buckets.
  
• Santa Clara shot just 4-of-20 from the floor in the second frame (20.0%).
  

Stat of the Day

8 - Rhode Island connected on a season-best eight 3-pointers.  E.C. Matthews made five. Jared Terrell made two, and Matthew Butler hit one.  

What's Next

The Rams take on Georgia Tech on Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

The Rhody Sports Network will also carry this - and every game - live on B101 (101.5 FM), with Steve McDonald and Don Kaull.  The pre-game show begins 30 minutes before tipoff.

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