UNCASVILLE, Conn. — First-year Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley understands that it’s going to take some time and some learning experiences to build his program into a winner.
Some lessons are just harder than others.
The Rams (0-4) led for all but the final 37 seconds Sunday before falling to Seton Hall 60-55 in the consolation game of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament.
“We feel like we’re getting better,” Hurley said. “We’re transitioning to becoming a winning program. We just have to learn how to close out games.”
Rhode Island led by as many as 13 points in the first half, and by eight with just 6:11 to play.
But the Pirates (3-1) fought back, taking the lead on a driving layup by Fuquon Edwin. They held Rhode Island to just one field goal and five points over the last 10:30 of the game.
“We controlled the game for about 38 minutes and didn’t handle special situations at the end of the game,” Hurley said. “That falls on me as a coach. The guys played their hearts out.”
Edwin, who had 27 in a loss to Washington Saturday, scored nine of his 12 points in the second half. Gene Teague scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Seton Hall.
Rhode Island guard Mike Powell hit five of his six shots from 3-point range and led the Rams (0-4) with 19 points. Andre Malone added 12.
Rhode Island played without forward Nikola Malesevic, who was suspended for the game for an undisclosed violation of team policy.
“We have a very high standard for how you have to carry yourself for the basketball program and we don’t tolerate anything,” the coach said.
The Pirates began their final push when Aaron Cosby hit a 3-pointer to make it 54-49 with just over 3 minutes left.
The Rams, using most of the shot clock on most possessions, were called for one of several shot-clock violations on their next possession.
Teague’s free throws made it a one possession game with 1:58 left.
A 3-pointer by Kyle Smyth cut the lead to 54-53 after a Powell free throw.
“We needed that shot,” Smyth said. “It went down and in the end, we won.”
Another shot-clock violation gave the Pirates the ball back and Edwin’s layup gave the Pirates their lead.
Tom Maayan hit a pair of free throws to make the advantage three, and Edwin hit two more foul shots after an off-balance 3-pointer by Rhode Island’s Xavier Munford missed the mark.
“It’s a really tough one to swallow, because we fought hard the entire game,” said Alwayne Bigby, who finished with seven points. “But we’re definitely progressing and learning each and every game.”
Rhode Island jumped out quickly, opening the game on a 7-2 run. Powell’s fourth 3-pointer made it 27-14, and the Rams led 32-23 at halftime. The Rams were 5 of 9 from behind the arc in the opening half, but finished 8 of 20.
Teague had 12 of his points in the first half to help keep the Pirates within striking distance.
Rhode Island, which came into the game off losses to Norfolk State and Virginia Tech, is rebuilding after a 7-24 season.
Hurley, a former Seton Hall guard, has just eight eligible scholarship players. Three others are transfers sitting out this season.
Seton Hall has now won seven of its eight games against Rhode Island.
“We did just about everything we needed to do in the game,” Hurley said. “I feel like our kids deserved to win, but in sports, deserving has nothing to do with it.”
The game was played at the Mohegan Sun arena, a short drive north on Interstate 95 from New Jersey and a shorter drive south from Rhode Island. But very few fans decided to make the trip, leaving the 10,000-seat arena mostly empty for the tournament’s consolation game.