Rhode Island Basketball: Season ends with loss to Dayton in A-10 Tournament
![Published Caption: URI's Fatts Russell, who led the Rams with 18 points, drives to the net past George Mason's Tyler Kolek, the former St. Andrew's star, during Saturday's Atlantic 10 game in South Kingstown. [The Providence Journal / David DelPoio] Original Caption: URI's Fatts Russell, who led the Rams with 18 points, drives to the net past George Mason's Tyler Kolek, the former St. Andrew's star, during Saturday's Atlantic 10 game in South Kingstown.Getting A Grip Uri Secures The Ball Defeats George Mason 80 60Syndication The Providence Journal](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F8cf1457f00d09c123a696735872eca2515b4c105866d43bf19afea57fca3c721.jpg "Published Caption: URI's Fatts Russell, who led the Rams with 18 points, drives to the net past George Mason's Tyler Kolek, the former St. Andrew's star, during Saturday's Atlantic 10 game in South Kingstown. [The Providence Journal / David DelPoio] Original Caption: URI's Fatts Russell, who led the Rams with 18 points, drives to the net past George Mason's Tyler Kolek, the former St. Andrew's star, during Saturday's Atlantic 10 game in South Kingstown.Getting A Grip Uri Secures The Ball Defeats George Mason 80 60Syndication The Providence Journal")
Rhode Island Basketball’s trip to the Siegel Center in Richmond for the Atlantic-10 Tournament lasted just one game. The Rams would shut the door on what was a frustrating 2020-21 season with an 84-72 loss to the Dayton Flyers.
The Rams’ biggest challenge came from the inability to contain Dayton’s offensive pace in the second specifically Ibi Watson who finished with 25 points. Watson hit his first four shots, three from three-point range, in the second half.
Rhode Island entered the game without senior guard Jeremy Sheppard. Although Sheppard only played one season with the Rams, he was a key player this season and is so valuable to this team. He transferred two seasons ago from East Carolina University and decided to sit out last season. With the NCAA giving all seniors one more year of eligibility due to COVID-19, Sheppard might consider coming back next season to finish what he started at URI.
The Rams did not only lose this game but, one of their biggest stars over the last four years: Fatts Russell. In his final game in Keaney blue, the senior guard recorded eight points, eight assists, and nine rebounds. Russell has had a frustrating season filled with injuries that set him back but, his career in Rhode Island could not go unnoticed.
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“It just kind of hit me all at once, everything Coach Cox did for me, everything this program did for me,” Russell said, “Rhody is always going to be a part of my family.”
The Rams end the 2020-21 campaign 10-15 overall, and 7-10 in league play. There were some bright spots, including wins over Seton Hall and St. Bonaventure but losing seven of eight to end the season will overshadow the early success.
Now we’ll see who leaves and comes back, along with what Rhode Island Basketball will do in the transfer portal in the coming months.