In a statement first round win for a local team, #11 ranked Rhode Island is making some noise in a 84-72 win over #6 seed Creighton.
This is the first time since 1998 in which the Rhode Island Rams are advancing to the Round of 32 dance. For a program that has ups and downs, it is nice seeing the Rams heading back into the tourney and hopefully making more noise in each game.
Against the Creighton Blue Jays today, the entire starting five for the Rams were in double digits. Led by freshman guard Jeff Dowtin, who had an unbelievable game of his first year, the Rams kept a steady lead on the sixth ranked Blue Jays and eventually wiped them out of contention. Dowtin dropped a game high 23 points, to go along with five boards in only 28 minutes. With putting up staggering numbers compared to his season averages (4 ppg, 1.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists a game), Dowtin went 10/10 from the free throw line. In games like these, critical shots are key throughout the entire duration of time, and getting to the free throw line and making all ten attempts, is what helps drive teams in games.
Rhode Island also got some help from NBA prospect guard E.C. Matthews, who dropped 16 to go along with seven boards. Matthews has been a consistent shooter in his tenure at Rhode Island and wants to make a statement in the big dance in what could be his last time wearing a blue and white uniform. Like Dowtin, Matthews went 10/10 from the free throw line and helped push the Rams into the Round of 32. For a team that went 28-31 from the line (90.3%), it says a lot about driving to the hoop and showing aggressiveness.
The only concern would be the bench scoring. A mere four points was all Rhode Island produced from the bench, in which Creighton utilized with scoring 32 off the bench. For any team, having a fire power bench balances the starters to score effectively in the entire game.
#11 Rhode Island plays #3 Oregon in the Round of 32 which goes from March 18th- March 19th.
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