Lamonte Ulmer, right, battling for a loose ball, gives URI instant energy.

The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez

SOUTH KINGSTOWN –– It is not as if Lamonte Ulmer has played badly for the URI basketball team this season. Actually, the opposite is true.

When the junior forward has been called on, he has played well. The numbers might look modest –– he is averaging 6.9 points and 4.6 rebounds –– but that’s the point. Ulmer is doing it in limited play.

Entering tomorrow’s game against Providence College, Ulmer is playing 18.8 minutes per game. That is down from last year, when he averaged 21.8. Still, his numbers are very much the same as they were last season, when he averaged 7.3 points and 4.9 rebounds.

Using a full 40 minutes for a game, Ulmer would be averaging a virtual double-double if he played more. Ulmer feels his numbers could be even better.

“I’m coming off a slow start, but I’m confident I’ll get back on pace,” he said. “Right now, I’m just feeling out the spots, trying to bring energy to the team.”

Ulmer is a victim, if that is the right word, of URI’s depth. This is easily the deepest team Jim Baron has had in his eight years with the Rams. Rarely, going back to the glory days of coach Frank Keaney, has a Rhody team been able to call on as many players, and get such good results, as Baron is this season.

The situation is especially difficult for the forwards. Baron has opted to play much of the time with three guards. It has worked out well. Keith Cothran has joined Marquis Jones and Jimmy Baron in the starting lineup, and all have excelled.

The three-guard rotation has meant URI often has had only two big men on the court. Kahiem Seawright and Delroy James have won the two starting jobs for those spots. Ulmer, Will Martell, Ben Eaves, Jason Francis and Orion Outerbridge all are competing for time. Baron has gone out of his way to find at least some time for everyone.

“We’re going to need everyone,” the coach says. “With the way we play, we need bodies. We’re going to need everyone to help.”

Last year, when the Rams kicked up the pace a notch, the team started 14-1, got into the Top 25, but then lost eight of its last nine. Baron obviously does not want that to happen this season, when his team is playing at an even faster pace. Only Jimmy Baron, who is averaging 30.8 minutes, is playing more than 30 minutes a game.

It is possible Ulmer could get some starts down the road when URI faces big teams and needs a third big man at the start. But Ulmer insists he is not worried about that.

“Starting doesn’t matter to me,” he said. “We just play ball. We can’t stop D-ing up or go off track because I say I want to start. We’re a team. We’ve got to rely on each other. It’s not about starting for me.

“I’m out there to bring energy,” he added. “Everybody on the team has a role. You’ve got to play your role. I’m a sixth man who has to bring energy to the team.”

Ulmer’s playing style certainly brings energy. He flies all over the court, often above the rim. He led the Rams in dunks last season with 27. Wednesday night at Northeastern, he provided a dramatic example of the boost he can give the team. The Rams’ starting unit had played well to begin the second half, scoring 16 straight points to turn a 42-39 halftime deficit into a 55-42 lead. Northeastern had steadied and was back in the game when Ulmer helped break it open.

URI led, 58-48, when Seawright dropped a pretty bounce pass to Ulmer cutting to the hoop. Ulmer dunked it home.

A short time later, Ulmer came flying in from the weak side after a missed shot, cupped the ball and dunked it home again. On URI’s next trip downcourt, Jimmy Baron saw Ulmer cutting in from the left again. He lofted an alley-oop pass. The timing was a bit off, but Ulmer caught the ball and banked it home for another nifty hoop, which got the URI bench on its feet. That made it 69-52. Northeastern coach Bill Coen called a timeout, but Ulmer had done his damage and the Rams were in control the rest of the way.

“It gets the whole team riled up,” Ulmer said of his dunks.

“Lamonte gave us quality minutes off the bench,” Baron said.

“We need Lamonte. He’s our high flyer,” said Seawright, one of the co-captains. “He gives us energy.”

Ulmer is playing well enough to deserve more than 19 minutes a game on most teams. But on this Rams squad, with its depth, right now that’s the situation he finds himself in.

pkenyon@projo.com