Rhode Island’s Stunning Victory
In a thrilling turn of events, Rhode Island’s men’s basketball team achieved a stunning victory against No. 19 Saint Louis, marking one of the most significant upsets of the 2025-26 college basketball campaign. The matchup took place at the Thomas M. Ryan Center in Kingston, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, February 17, ending with a score of 81-76 in favor of the Rams. This momentous win was celebrated by an exuberant crowd that stormed the court as time expired, reveling in the shocking defeat of a ranked opponent.
Season Records and Implications
With this victory, Rhode Island improved its season record to 15 wins against 11 losses and moved to 6-7 in Atlantic 10 conference play. Conversely, the defeat inflicted on the Billikens pushed their overall record to 24-2, while they fell to 12-1 within the A-10, marking their first conference loss of the season.
Player Highlights
Despite the setback, which halts an impressive 18-game winning streak that began after a narrow 78-77 loss to Stanford in late November, it is unlikely that Saint Louis will be excluded from the NCAA Tournament picture. In the losing effort, Robbie Avila stood out for the Billikens, scoring 21 points, along with contributing five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
On the winning side, Jonah Hinton was the standout performer for the Rams, sinking nine three-pointers and finishing the game with a total of 29 points on an efficient 10-of-17 shooting. Myles Corey and Tyler Cochran also contributed significantly, scoring 15 and 11 points, respectively, solidifying Rhode Island’s triumph in this hard-fought contest.
Looking Ahead
This dramatic turn of events adds to the excitement leading up to March Madness, with Selection Sunday approaching as NCAA predictions continue to generate buzz amongst fans and analysts alike.
