KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) - Jamel Fuentes came off the bench to score 10 of his 11 points in the second half as Norfolk State came back to defeat Rhode Island 67-55 Friday night in both teams' season opener.
Fuentes, a junior guard, sank a 3-pointer just 4 seconds into the second half to cut the Spartans' deficit to 30-28.
After the Rams came back to lead 47-42 with 9:23 remaining on a three-point play by Nikola Malesevic, Fuentes took charge. He made a three-point play of his own, then stole the ball and tied the game with a jumper. His layup with 8:57 to play put the Spartans in front 49-47, and they never relinquished the lead.
Brandon Goode had 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Spartans, who went 26-10 last season and beat Missouri in the NCAA tournament before losing to Florida.
Malesevic had 26 points and nine rebounds for Rhode Island.
| Scoreboard | |||
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
| Norfolk State (1-0) « | 25 | 42 | 67 |
| Rhode Island (0-1) | 30 | 25 | 55 |
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| Norfolk State Spartans | |||||||
| STARTERS | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| R. Johnson, F | 33 | 4-9 | 2-3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| B. Goode, C | 24 | 6-9 | 1-2 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 13 |
| P. Williams, G | 36 | 3-8 | 5-5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| M. Hawkins, G | 22 | 3-8 | 1-2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| K. Brown, G | 15 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| BENCH | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| J. Fuentes | 31 | 4-11 | 2-3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| R. Gaston | 16 | 3-5 | 1-3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| K. Lila-St. Rose | 7 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| A. Rogers | 6 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Z. Estime | 5 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| J. Weathers | 5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 25-56 | 12-18 | 42 | 9 | 25 | 67 | |
| 44.6% | 66.7% | ||||||
| Rhode Island Rams | |||||||
| STARTERS | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| N. Malesevic, F | 33 | 7-15 | 9-12 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 26 |
| R. Brooks, F | 24 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Malone, G | 36 | 3-11 | 6-7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| M. Powell, G | 36 | 1-4 | 2-5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| X. Munford, G | 32 | 3-19 | 0-0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| BENCH | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| T. Buchanan | 12 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| M. Aaman | 11 | 1-2 | 2-6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| A. Bigby | 10 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Hare | 6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Totals | 15-53 | 19-30 | 39 | 6 | 19 | 55 | |
| 28.3% | 63.3% | ||||||
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