The Rhode Island Rams defeated the Oklahoma Sooners, 83-78 in overtime, on Thursday, March 15 in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Rhode Island covered the spread as 2-point favorites while the game went over the total of 157.5 after the extra five minutes were played.
The Rams will move on to face the winner of Duke vs. Iona in the Round of 32. Duke is a heavy favorite in that game at -20.5 points, so the Blue Devils certainly are the more likely opponent for Rhode Island.
Odds for that third-round matchup will soon be released by BetDSI Sportsbook, but if Duke is the opponent, we anticipate Rhode Island being an underdog against the Blue Devils, the Midwest Region’s No. 2 seed.
Game recap
E.C. Matthews scored 16 points and collected five rebounds to pace the Rams on Thursday. Fatts Russell contributed 15 points, and Cyril Langevine had 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
Trae Young led all players with 28 points and seven assists for Oklahoma, but Jamuni McNeace was the only other Sooner in double-figure scoring with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Rhode Island shot just 39 percent from the field and 57.9 percent from the free throw line. But more importantly, it connected on 11 of 28 attempts from 3-point range and held Oklahoma to 4-of-20 shooting from beyond the arc.
Rhode Island trailed 35-31 at halftime but used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to take as high as a seven-point lead. The Sooners rallied, however, and forced overtime at 69-69 with two free throws from Young with 15 seconds left. Jeff Dowtin and Stanford Robinson each missed potential game-winning shots in the final seconds. In overtime, Oklahoma scored the first three points but the Rams re-took the lead with more 3-point shooting.
Rhode Island’s odds to win the NCAA Tournament were quite long, with BetDSI pegging the Rams at +10000 to win it all. The Rams’ likely next opponent, Duke, is among the favorites to win March Madness with +550 odds.
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