Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to t

KINGSTON, R.I. -- After coasting through its first two games, No. 21 Rhode Island finally played a team that wasnt out of contention by halftime.Jared Terrell scored 18 points and E.C. Matthews added 17 as the Rams staved off upset-minded Brown on Wednesday night in Round Two of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off.This is the first time we got challenged since weve been on the court, Rams coach Dan Hurley said. Its the first time we were in something tight where we had to make some plays.Some mind-boggling things went on. We got out-hustled. I think we were a little full of ourselves today and this was the perfect opponent for us to get upset. Can this be a positive for us? Yes.Steven Spieth paced the Bears (1-2) with 21 points while Brandon Anderson added 16. Hassan Martin added 12 points for the Rams (3-0).We knew we would be challenged and that if we took care of the ball we would have had a chance, Brown coach Mike Martin said. In a game like this, every possession is critical and we had a few empty chances in the second half.After trailing 36-21 in the first half, Brown pulled within 41-33 at intermission as Spieth scored six points in the last 27 seconds.Obviously Im happy to survive the game, Hurley said. My hats off to Mike and his team. He had his guys really ready to play.They were really scrappy. I thought Spieth was the best player on the court. On our end Im disappointed because we had several chances in the first half to extend it and get away like we did in our first two games.Even though Rhode Island shot 57.7 percent from the field in the second half, the fact Brown switched from man-to-man to a zone defense still gave the Rams trouble.At one point Brown trailed 58-53 before Martin and Matthews ignited a rally that enabled Rhode Island to pull away.Great teams at that point get separation, Hurley said of his teams first-half play. I have much respect for the way their guys showed up and competed.BIG PICTUREBrown: The Bears tied for last last season in the Ivy League. But they may have delivered a message that this scenario wont be repeated after they upset Niagara 77-67 in their home opener on Nov. 13 and played Rhode Island tough on Wednesday.Rhode Island: Season-opening routs of Dartmouth and Marist enabled the Rams to move up two spots in the Top 25 poll, to No. 21. Logic dictates their road will become more difficult to traverse as the season progresses.POLL IMPLICATIONS: At the least the Rams didnt hurt their standings in the poll but how much this hard-fought victory will enable them to move up is debatable.HIGHLIGHT REEL: Martin continues to guard his teams basket like it contains the crown jewels as he blocked six shots which gave him a total of 262. That number ranks second among all active NCAA Division I players.TURNING POINT: The Bears had sliced their deficit from 15 points to 58-55 with 10:39 left in regulation. But Martin blunted that rally by sandwiching a dunk and a tip-in around a free throw by Matthews.FRESHMAN STANDOUT: Browns Anderson, who had only scored three points in his first two games, finished with 16 points and four rebounds with four steals.UP NEXTBrown should be favored when it faces Marist on Saturday in the Springfield Bracket of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The Red Foxes opened their season with a 94-49 loss to No. 1 Duke and a 107-65 defeat by Rhode Island.Rhode Island will face its most challenging, early season opponent on Saturday when it plays No. 24 Cincinnati in the Naismith Bracket of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The Bearcats have won their first two games, outscoring Albany and Brown by an average score of 79-53. Rickard Rakell Jersey .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Custom Anaheim Ducks Jerseys . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/ . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Jakob Silfverberg Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Jakob Silfverberg Ducks Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says wide receiver John Brown will be sidelined while undergoing the concussion protocol.Brown was hurt when his head slammed into the turf during a collision with cornerback Patrick Peterson at Sundays practice.Cornerback Mike Jenkins broke a bone in his right hand in practice on Saturday and, Arians said, was to undergo surgery Monday. Arians said Jenkins should be back practicing while wearing a cast in two to three weekks.ddddddddddddArians said right guard Evan Mathis left Sundays practice due to left leg fatigue. Mathis underwent ankle surgery on the same leg in the offseason.Mathis, running back Chris Johnson and backup quarterback Drew Stanton were given a veterans day off from practice Monday.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '