Duke Faces Rhode Island In The Second Round Of The NCAA Tournament

After defeating Iona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Pittsburgh in the Midwest Region . Duke who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference will take on Rhode Island who is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference   in the second round in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon.

Duke comes into their second round of the NCAA Tournament  with Rhode Island with  a record of 27-7. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/150/ after their win over Iona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday at PPG Arena in Pittsburgh."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

Mike Krzyzewski keeps wringing his hands about his team's youth. And then Duke and its roster of NBA-bound freshmen get on the floor against a more experienced opponent and the Hall of Fame coach's fears largely vanish."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

Having Marvin Bagley III certainly helps."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

The Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year did whatever he wanted against game but overmatched Iona, pouring in 22 points to go with seven rebounds in his NCAA Tournament debut as the Blue Devils pulled away for an 89-67 victory on Thursday. The 6-foot-11 freshman forward made 10 of 14 shots in 32 minutes -- even making his lone 3-point attempt -- as Duke rolled into a second-round Midwest Region matchup with seven-seeded Rhode Island on Saturday. The Rams held off Oklahoma in overtime in the opening game of the tournament. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

"(This is) what we've had to go through the whole year, you know, the first road game, the first conference game, the -- you know, the first 10:00 of game, you know, all of those things," Krzyzewski said. "So this is a first for them.""according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

Bagley included. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

"I woke up and felt a little anxious," Bagley said. "I was just anxious to play. When the first game came on, I was watching it a little bit until we left the hotel. From there it was time to lock in." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

After some early issues with the Gaels, that wasn't a problem. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

Duke allowed seasoned if undersized Iona (20-14) to hang around for most of the first half then tweaked its zone defense enough to disrupt the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament champions . Bagley and some solid shooting and unselfish play by the Blue Devil backcourt trio of Grayson Allen, Trevon Duval and Gary Trent took care of the rest. "according tohttp://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

Allen and his two freshmen teammates combined for 51 points and 18 assist of Duke's 24 assists. Each of them made four 3-pointers, and when the Gaels came out to challenge, Bagley and Wendell Carter Jr. had plenty of room to go to work inside. The Blue Devils outrebounded Iona 39-29 and outscored the Gaels in the paint 46-30. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

Roland Griffin led the Gaels with 21 points off the bench. TK Edogi chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds and Zach Lewis and Schadrac Casimir had 10 points each, but Iona simply couldn't keep up while falling to 1-13 all-time in the NCAAs."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

"We knew they had two bigs that was top in the country, and we tried to get them to shoot, try and beat us that way, try to let them shoot the ball all night," Iona guard Rickey McGill said. "Obviously, they was having a hot night, and it just didn't go our way." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

Iona head coach Tim Cluess acknowledged before the game his team, making its third straight NCAA appearance and fifth in the last seven seasons, would have an edge in experience. At the end, however, Cluess allowed "talent is talent." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

And the gap between Duke and the Gaels came into full focus about midway through the first half."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

Iona welcomed the chance to run with the Blue Devils. They did. For a while, anyway. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

A jumper by Griffin pulled Iona within 26-23 about 9 minutes into the game as the two teams played at a breakneck pace. The Blue Devils upped the intensity a bit defensively and when Allen hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer, Duke led 53-39. A 19-7 burst to start the second half boosted the Blue Devils' edge to 26 points and any concerns that Duke would falter as a No. 2 seed for the second time in six years vanished."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

FAMILIAR FACE

Krzyzewski won't have to look far for a scouting report on the Rams, coached by Danny Hurley, the younger brother of former Duke star and current Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley. Krzyzewski and the Hurley family have been tight for years and Krzyzewski is well aware of what awaits the Blue Devils on Saturday: solid guard play and a team that won't beat itself. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

"Danny's team -- yeah, he's built a -- he hasn't built a team, he's built a program there," Krzyzewski said. "You know, that's the difference. That's what you want to do is build a program that develops teams year after year, and he's done that at Rhode Island." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

BIG PICTURE

Iona: The Gaels lose Edogi, Lewis and Deyshonee Much to graduation but should one again be right in the mix in the MAAC next season, as they have so regularly during Cluess' highly successful tenure."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

Duke: The Blue Devils got it together late in the season thanks in large part to their defense. It didn't exactly look that way at times against the Gaels, who shot 53 percent in the first half. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211706107

Rhode Island  meanwhile comes into the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a record of 26-7. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/227/rhode-island-rams after their win in overtime against  Oklahoma in the first round.

Rhode Island Starters
Matthews, Dowtin, Robinson, Terrell, Berry "according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

Oklahoma Starters
James, McNeace, Young, McGusty, Doolittle "according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

How it Happened
Seventh-seeded Rhode Island (26-7) came out victorious in a back-and-forth, overtime battle, defeating 10th-seeded Oklahoma 83-78. The Rams overcame a seven-point second-half deficit and hit six consecutive free throws in the final 1:03 to advance to the NCAA Round of 32. It marks the first time in program history that Rhody advances in the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons."according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

In a first half that included 11 lead changes, Oklahoma tied it up at 16 after Rashard Odomes made one of two at the free throw line. A jumper from Trae Young put the Sooners up 18-16 with 10:49 to play but Jarvis Garrett countered with a three-ball put Rhody in front 19-18 just 20 seconds later."according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

Oklahoma (18-14) then used a 17-8 run to gain its largest lead of the half (35–27) with 2:29 remaining. The pesky Rhode Island defense forced the Sooners into turnovers on their final two possessions however, while trimming OU's lead to 35-31 at the other end of the court."according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

The Rams returned from the break and trailed 42-35 (17:42) before a deep 3-ball by Jared Terrell eventually tied the score at 44. Rhode Island then used a 13-2 run - capped by a 3-pointer by Fatts Russell - to get on top 59-52 with 7:37 remaining."according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

Oklahoma responded with a run of its own, scoring seven straight points to pull ahead 67-66 after a 3-pointer from Young. A traditional three-point play by E.C. Matthews put the Rams back on top 69-67 with 1:35 remaining, but Young made a pair of free throws to tie the score at 69-69 with 15 seconds left to play."according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

The Rams had a chance to end things at the buzzer, but Stanford Robinson's tip-in attempt bounced off both sides of the rim before rolling out and sending the game into overtime."according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

The Sooners earned their first three points of overtime at the charity stripe to take a 72-69 lead. Rhode Island answered with a layup from Cyril Langevine and 3-pointer by Matthews to get on top 74-72 with 1:54 on the clock. A successful trip to the free throw line by Langevine then put the Rams up 76-72. The Sooners once again made it a two-point game (76-74) after a Kameron McGusty basket with 54 seconds remaining. "according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

Matthews then hit a clutch 3-pointer with 28 seconds left to play, followed by a pair of free throw makes from both Langevine and Russell to extend the Rhody advantage to 83-76. The Sooners would not let up, as Jamuni McNeace slammed in OU's ninth dunk of the game with three seconds remaining. It was too little, too late however as time expired with Rhody on top 83-78. "according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

Inside the Box Score

• Redshirt senior E.C. Matthews and freshman Fatts Russell combined for 31 points, 27 of which came after the first half. Matthews score a team-high 16, while also grabbing five rebounds and dishing out five assists. Russell added three assists and a pair of steals.
• Matthews now has 1,876 points on his career, moving him into third place on the all-time scoring list. He passed Ernie Calverley who had 1,868 through 1943-46.
• Sophomore Cyril Langevine and senior Jared Terrell also scored in double figures for the Rams, recording 14 and 13 points, respectively.
• Langevine double-doubled for the fifth time this season, grabbing 10 rebounds to go along with two blocks and a pair of assists.
• Nine of Terrell's 13 points came from the perimeter as he was 3-of-5 from long-range. He also recorded six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
• The two steals by Terrell move him into fourth place on the all-time list with 170. He was previously tied with Carlton Owens, who had 168 through 1984-88.
• Sophomore Jeff Dowtin and redshirt senior Stanford Robinson each added eight points. Dowtin also registered three assists, two rebounds and one block while Robinson had six rebounds and one block.
• Dowtin's 180 assists this season has moved him into third place on the all-time list, passing Carlton Owens  who dished out 179 in 1987-88.
• Rhody finished with just six turnovers in the overtime victory. Only twice this season have the Rams turned the ball over fewer times as they had five against both Saint Joseph's (March 10) and Florida Gulf Coast (Dec. 27).
• Oklahoma star Trae Young recorded a game-high 28 points and seven assists.
• The Sooners also held the advantage in rebounds (54-41), points in the paint (48-36) and second chance points (22-11) but Rhody's bench provided a huge boost for the Rams, outscoring Oklahoma's 33-14. "according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

Stats of the Game

16/7 - The game featured 16 lead changes and seven ties. In total, Rhody led for just 14:30 of the game's 45:00."according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy

Tip-off is set for 2:40pm. The game will be televised on CBS. "according to http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/releases/20180315lqtwqy