In a disappointing turn of events, the Rhode Island men’s basketball team fell to Fordham 88-71 in the NCAA Atlantic 10 Tournament, allowing Fordham to become the lowest seed to advance in the tournament. Despite starting strong, Fordham’s explosive offense, led by Jackie Johnson III and Japhet Medor, overwhelmed Rhode Island’s defense, building a significant lead in the first half.
Rhode Island’s head coach, Archie Miller, acknowledged the struggles his team faced in containing Fordham’s backcourt and was unable to find a solution to stop their dominance. Although Rhode Island managed to make a comeback and cut the lead to just six points, their offense faltered, and they were unable to maintain momentum.
One of the major issues for Rhode Island was their inability to match Fordham’s physicality and rebounding, ultimately contributing to their defeat. Despite this, the Rams saw strong performances from their bench players, providing a silver lining in an otherwise disappointing loss.
This defeat marks the end of Rhode Island’s promising season, which was marred by inconsistent conference play. Looking ahead, Coach Miller will focus on recruiting and strengthening the team for the future, aiming to improve on their defensive capabilities. As they regroup for next season, Rhode Island’s players and coaching staff will aim to learn from this experience and strive for success in the future.
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