Rhode Island 78, Richmond 64

1/30/2008 8:53 PM

SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) -Will Daniels scored 17 points and Kahiem Seawright finished with 16 points and nine rebounds in leading Rhode Island to a 78-64 win over Richmond on Wednesday night.

The Rams improved to 18-3 (4-2 A-10), equaling their best start since the 1987-88 season when they went 18-3 through their first 21 games. The Spiders dropped to 10-9 (3-3 A-10).

Forward Ryan Butler paced the Spiders with 13 points.

Daniels opened the Rams' advantage to eight points in the first half at 28-16 when he scored on a layup and hit a free throw. Richmond responded with a 17-5 run over the final 9:05 of the opening half, evening the score at 35-35.

Seawright gave the Rams a five-point lead at 46-41 following a pair of successful free throws but the Spiders regained the advantage at 49-48 on Jarhon Giddings' layup off a steal with 9:42 left in regulation. Seawright's jumper on the following possession put the Rams back in front for the rest of the game.

Rhode Island hit 53.3 percent from the floor, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range, and held an overwhelming advantage from the foul line, connecting on 24 of 36. The Spiders made four of six, and committed 27 fouls in the loss.

Richmond hit a 27.3 percent from 3-point range on 6 of 22 attempts, and hit 48.2 percent from the floor.