SOUTH KINGSTOWN –– If he wanted to, Jim Baron could have said, “I told you so” after his team beat Holy Cross, 92-75, Sunday at the Ryan Center.

The URI coach has been telling anyone who would listen for some time that one of his team’s strengths is its depth. When two of his bench players, sophomores Orion Outerbridge and Jamal Wilson, made huge contributions in the opening-game victory at Brown, it looked as if Baron’s point had been made.

It turns out it was only the beginning.

In game two, it was two freshmen, Nikola Malesevic and Akeem Richmond, who stepped into the spotlight. Those two came off the bench and scored 15 first-half points to help URI take control.

The way they did it made it even better. URI very much needs outside shooting. Teams figure to play zone defense often against the Rams because of URI’s lack of perimeter shooting. Holy Cross started in man-to-man, but then switched to a zone. That’s when Baron brought in Malesevic and Richmond.

Malesevic sank a 3-pointer from the left elbow the first time he touched the ball. He added a rebound basket and another 3-pointer for eight first-half points. Richmond added seven points before the break, and 10 in all. He finished 2-for-5 on 3-pointers.

“We got great minutes from our bench,” Baron said. “Each time you’re going to see different guys emerge.”

The 6-foot-9 Outerbridge, whom center Will Martell calls “a freak athlete,” played well again, with four blocked shots. Wilson had four points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 13 minutes.

“That’s the nice part about it. You have guys coming off the bench and really stepping up. It gives you a good feeling,” Baron said.

Delroy James, who led the Rams with 21 points, was especially happy for Malesevic, who had not played much in the two preseason games and the Brown contest.

“We kept telling him, ‘Keep your head up. There’s a reason you’re here,’ ” he said. “Today he showed why he’s here.”

Running the show

Through two games, it looks as if the depth is extending to the point-guard spot. Starter Marquis Jones and Stevie Mejia are splitting that job. Mejia had a big game against Brown, while Jones had 10 points and three assists with no turnovers against Holy Cross.

The ball also is being placed in Keith Cothran’s hands more than ever. The senior continued to show the improvement in his passing game as he made several pretty passes that led to easy hoops for teammates. He finished with six assists, one off his career high. Cothran also had 11 points. URI is 26-8 in his career when he scores in double figures.

New sponsor

URI’s basketball broadcasts have a new presenting sponsor.

Beltone New England, one of the nation’s largest producers of hearing instruments, has signed on as presenting sponsor of the Rams Radio Network for men’s basketball. Beltone has nearly 70 locations in New England alone. Its products are distributed in 27 countries on five continents.

“As a URI alum, I could not be more happy to support URI and URI athletics,” said Michael K. Andreozzi, president and CEO of Beltone New England. “Rhode Island is home to Beltone New England and we believe URI is the perfect venue to show our commitment to our home, our state and our young people.”

All weekday games this year are being broadcast on B101 FM and weekend games on WHJJ 920AM.

Final points

URI had a recruit at the game. He is PJ Lockridge, a 6-foot-6 forward from Wisconsin who is attending prep school in Virginia. Lockridge also is being recruited by Georgia and South Florida, among others. ... With the victory, URI is 91-12 in home openers in school history. ... The game ball was presented by Capt. Anselm T.W. Richards. He is a Salve Regina grad, and former baseball player and sailor at that school, who has served in Iraq and Egypt. ... The Rams have a quick turnaround. They will host Stony Brook, from the America East Conference, Tuesday at 7:30.

pkenyon@projo.com