KINGSTON, R.I. – A Kimo Ferrari three-pointer with 55 seconds left in the game lifted the Brown men’s basketball team over Rhode Island 59-58 Wednesday night at the Ryan Center. It was the Bears’ first win at the Ryan Center since the building’s construction in 2002.
“It was an exciting win for our program,” head coach Mike Martin ’04 said. “I thought URI controlled play for most of the night, but we found a way to win. Hopefully that’s a sign of a good team, winning games on the road when you don’t play your best.”
The victory is Brown’s fifth straight, giving the Bears their first five-game winning streak since the 2019-20 season.
Kino Lilly Jr. had a team-high 14 points on the night on a 4-for-7 shooting performance from three. Kalu Anya had nine points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Paxson Wojcik had nine and 11.
Ferrari’s three was his first make from the field on the night. He finished with five points, three rebounds, and two assists.
“I saw the shot clock going down and knew I had to put it up,” Ferrari said. “Just happy it went it.”
The Bears trailed by as many as 10 in the second half. With 5:49 to play, the Rams led 57-47, but over the final five-plus minutes, Brown outscored URI 12-2 to claw back and eventually take the lead.
With two minutes to play, Wojcik got a layup to go to get within two and the Bears forced a tough shot on the other end that ended up in the hands of Wojcik.
Back on the offensive end, Anya grabbed the rebound off a missed layup and found Ferrari outside the arc with one second on the shot clock for the game-winner. Going up 59-58 was Brown’s first lead of the night.
“Obviously, a huge shot by Kimo, but it came off an offensive rebound kickout,” Martin said. “I thought rebounding would be a huge key to the game tonight. I was most concerned with us being able to finish out defensive possessions with rebounds because they are so good going to the offensive glass. We really helped ourselves late with second chance opportunities with rebounds off our offensive glass.
“Our freshman, Kalu Anya, what a game he played and what a start he is off to. That offensive rebound there at the end, and then the poise to kick it out and find Kimo for three. Kimo is one of our better shooters and we all felt pretty good about him taking that shot.”
On the night, Brown out-rebounded URI 43-35, including a 13-4 advantage in offensive boards.
In the first half, the Rams opened things up with a 9-0 run, but the Bears would battle back to eventually get within one at 17-16 with 6:49 to go in the half.
URI made a few baskets and put a couple good defensive possessions together to end the half with a 30-23 lead.
But the Bears went on to outscore the Rams 36-28 in the second half to earn the victory. It was the third time in the last four games that Brown held its opponent to under 60 points.
“A lot we can learn from,” Martin said. “A lot we can improve upon, but it’s great for us to come here and win.”
Following the Bears’ victory over Bryant last week, Brown will finish the season as the only 2-0 team among the four Division I men’s basketball teams in the state of Rhode Island.
The Bears will now turn their attention to a matchup at Michigan State this Saturday Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m.
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