URI’s Lamonte Ulmer slams one home vs. Central Conn.

The Journal / Ruben W. Perez

SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Even now, more than six years later, Henry Bibby’s comments still come alive for anyone who was at the Ryan Center on opening night.

It seems hard to believe, but it was 100 games ago when Bibby, the coach at Southern Cal, went ballistic after his team had a victory taken away while it was in the locker room.

The Trojans thought they had defeated URI, 74-73, on Nov. 26, 2002, when Desmond Farmer made a 30-footer at the buzzer. Officials at first ruled the shot good, USC celebrated and dashed to its locker room. Meanwhile, most of the sellout crowd in the new facility waited around and watched as officials headed to a television monitor. It took a while, but Joe DeMayo, the head referee, made a bit of history.

The replays showed that the shot had come after the buzzer. The baseline jumper URI’s Dustin Hellenga had made with 2.2 seconds left turned out to be the winner. The Rams had a 73-71 victory in a truly memorable first game ever played in their new $54-million facility.

Bibby did not take it well.

“That,” he said, “is the worst-officiated game I’ve seen since I started coaching in 1981. I give Rhode Island credit for playing well, but the officiating was not fair. There were three officials who wanted to see this building open with a win.”

Since then, URI has won 65 more games, against 33 losses. This afternoon’s game No. 100 takes place when the Rams (9-4) host a good Akron team (8-4) at about 2:30. The contest is the second of a doubleheader. The URI women play Albany at noon.

Rhody coach Jim Baron, who was beginning his second year in Kingston when the building opened, is like many others. Opening night is one of his favorite memories of the Ryan Center, which has been atypical from the start.

While it is common for Rhode Islanders to expect the worst when major projects are undertaken — the Ryan Center is the most expensive project ever for URI — the building has drawn positive reviews from the start, Bibby’s reaction notwithstanding.

“The Southern Cal game was incredible from the standpoint of us getting a school of that magnitude to come in,” Baron said. “The Ryan Center is terrific. It’s a great place to play.”

URI officials plan to hold brief ceremonies marking the 100th game today. They also have put together their list, compiled from discussions led by Mike Laprey, the school’s assistant athletic director for communications, of highlights in the first 100 games in the facility. Here is their list:

The top five games:

5. A 57-55 loss to then No. 1-ranked Saint Joseph’s in a nationally televised contest (Dick Vitale was on the ESPN2 crew) on Feb. 28, 2004.

4. An 89-79 victory over Providence College on Dec. 6, 2003, on PC’s first trip to Kingston since 1972.

3. Jimmy Baron’s buzzer-beater that downed Dayton, 75-74, on Jan. 7, 2007.

2. The opening-night thriller against Southern Cal.

1. The first “Pink Out” night, a 75-72 victory over Massachusetts on Jan. 24, 2007.

The top five individual performances:

5. Kahiem Seawright’s 19 rebounds against Houston on Nov. 13, 2006.

4. Will Daniels’ work against Hofstra on Dec. 22, 2007 — 22 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists.

3. Shows put on by opponents: Manny Ubilla’s 39 points for FDU last year and Duquesne’s Bryant McAlister with 36 points three years ago.

2. Jimmy Baron going 8-for-9 on 3-pointers against Brown two years ago.

1. Dawan Robinson’s 37-points, 5-assists, 5-steals performance against Quinnipiac four years ago.

The top five opponents to play at the Ryan Center:

5. Antonio Gates, Kent State

4. Steven Smith, La Salle

3. Ryan Gomes, PC

2. Brandin Knight, Pitt

1. Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph’s

Today’s game figures to be another good one. Akron has won at least 20 games in each of the last three years, and again is one of the favorites in the Mid-American Conference.

“They’re good. I think they’re a postseason team,” coach Baron said.

Game No. 100, though, will have to go a way to go to equal the first contest in the facility.Today

URI vs. Akron

2:30 p.m.

pkenyon@projo.com