Not that big a crowd for the first game of the evening doubleheader, but it's definitely a pro-Minutemen bunch. There might even be fewer Billikens fans here tonight than there were yesterday, or at least they're more spread out. There's a UMass student section of about ten or so, and for the first time all tournament it's behind the Horseshoe End basket.
Also, major props to the UMass band for a great rendition of CBS' college basketball theme music.
And major lack of props to me for being too busy earlier to write more about Fordham-Rhode Island. It was by far the best game of the tournament yet, as the light blue Rams clawed back from an 11-point halftime deficit for a 73-69 win. Fordham took a 66-63 lead on a Marcus Stout 3 with 5:53 remaining, but URI kept scratching and took the lead for good on a tough driving layup by Jimmy Baron with 11 seconds to go in the game.
Fordham held for last shot and Brenton Butler tried to dribble his way open, but he traveled with 0.9 seconds left and Keith Conran sank two game-clinching free throws at the other end.
