URI’s Steve Meja, left, and Akron’s Chris McKnight hit the deck but can’t come up with this loose ball yesterday.

The Providence Journal / John Freidah

SOUTH KINGSTOWN — In the 100 games the URI basketball team has played in the Ryan Center, the Rams have had some better performances than the one they turned in yesterday against Akron. But not many.

Rhode Island made the celebration of the 100th game in its six-year-old building a good one, putting forth an outstanding all-around performance as it belted a good Akron team, 79-50.

Led by Delroy James, who came off the bench and had a superb effort reminiscent of his game at Duke, the Rams did everything well.

They shot 55.8 percent — 29 for 52. The defense, especially the full-court press, was as good as it has been all season, holding Akron (8-5) to 35-percent shooting, including only 6 of 25 3-pointers. The Rams (10-4) had 10 steals, many off their full-court press, which led to numerous easy baskets.

The ball movement was terrific, as evidenced by 24 assists, equaling URI’s high in that department. URI also controlled the backboards, winning that battle, 40-28.

“Our all-around game was good today,” said Keith Cothran, who was one of the stars with 16 points and five assists. “We’ve got to keep it up.”

“I think it’s right up there,” Rhody coach Jim Baron responded when asked if it was his team’s best effort yet.

What made the work even more special was that it was accomplished with limited help form the two senior leaders, Jimmy Baron and Kahiem Seawright. Baron had to sit much of the first half after picking up two fouls in the first 4:25. He finished with 14 points to keep alive his streak of having scored in double figures in every game this season, but nine of those came late. Seawright injured his lower back in a fall under the basket five minutes in. He was able to return, but had only six points and five rebounds (including the 700th of his career) in 18 minutes.

Instead, numerous others stepped up, most notably James. The forward, who lost his starting job five games back, came off the bench early and did some of everything. He had 16 points, a career-high nine rebounds, five assists and three steals — all with no turnovers in 26 minutes.

His defense and his passing stood out. When he is in, James plays at the head of the press. He was outstanding in that role, not only picking off three steals himself but also hounding the ball handlers, which led to steals for others.

On offense, James has worked to change his style. He is a slasher who loves to take the ball to the basket. But sometimes he has been out of control.

“He’s slowed his game down. We’ve talked to him about it,” Baron said. “People have been taking charges. We’ve told him they’re going to step in on him and take charges. When he goes down the middle, we’ve told him he’s got to make the pass.”

James did exactly that. Three times he dumped passes off to Will Martell as he drove to the hoop. And Martell, who had the first start of his career, finished the plays with easy baskets. Of all his stats yesterday, James was most proud of his five assists with no turnovers.

“It shows I’m looking for my teammates,” he said.

URI was ahead only 8-7 when Jimmy Baron and Seawright went out five minutes into the game. A unit of James, Lamonte Ulmer, Martell, Stevie Mejia and Cothran outscored Akron, 15-5, over the next five minutes. URI led by 11 at the half. Akron cut its deficit to 38-32 early in the second half, but the Rams then ran off 13 straight points to take control at 51-32.

In the 13-point run, James accounted for six points, two assists, two steals and a rebound.

Even after it built the big lead, URI kept up the pressure defense on and Akron stayed out of kilter, as it was most of the day. The Zips want to control the pace. They had lost earlier to Dayton, 54-50, which is more the way they want to play. URI’s defense forced the Zips out of their comfort zone.

“They’re so good offensively that if you make mistakes to help them, it makes it impossible,” said Akron coach Keith Dambrot. “We knew if the game got in the 70s we were going to lose.”

And they did, the 66th visiting team to lose in the first 100 games at the Ryan Center.

pkenyon@projo.com