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Recap: Norfolk State 67, Rhode Island 55
Norfolk State 67, Rhode Island 55: Brandon Goode had 13 points and 13 rebounds as the visiting Spartans used a huge second half to upend the Rams in the first-ever meetings between the schools.
Pendarvis Williams finished with 12 points and Jamel Fuentes added 11 off the bench for Norfolk State, which held Rhode Island to 28.3 percent shooting from the floor in the season opener for both teams..
The Rams, coming off their worst season since the 2004-05 campaign, held a 30-25 lead at the break in the coaching debut of Dan Hurley. But outside of Nikola Malesevic – who finished with a game-high 26 points – Rhode Island was unable to find its shooting touch.
After Fuentes scored seven straight points to turn a five-point deficit into a 49-47 lead with 8:57 remaining, the Spartans never trailed again on the strength of a 42-point second half.
Andre Malone joined Malesevic as the only other Rhode Island player in double figures with 13 points.
