Frazier leads Fordham past Rhode Island 85-79

NEW YORK (AP) - Branden Frazier finished with 25 points leading Fordham over Rhode Island 85-79 on Saturday night.

Fordham (9-12, 2-6 Atlantic 10) led 72-62 with 6:19 left, but Rhode Island nearly erased the deficit with eight straight points.

Bryan Smith made two free throws to put Fordham up 74-70 before Xavier Munford scored on three consecutive URI possessions.

Fordham answered each Munford basket to go back up by four - the last coming on Frazier’s stop-and-pop jumper, giving Fordham an 80-76 lead with 40 seconds to play.

URI failed to score its next trip and had to send Jon Severe to free-throw line. Severe made both to put Fordham up six.

Munford closed the gap to 82-79 on a 3 with 22 seconds left, but Frazier made two more free throws to secure the win.

E.C. Matthews had 20 points and Munford had 16 for URI (11-11, 2-5).