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KINGSTON, R.I. -- Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley felt the key to defeating Belmont was to limit the Bruins proficiency from beyond the 3-point arc.The 23rd-ranked Rams held the Bruins to 18.5 percent shooting (5 of 27) from 3-point range and posted an 82-73 victory Friday night.The plan tonight was to keep them to five 3s or less and keep them under 25 percent, Hurley said. We felt like they wouldnt be able to score enough 2s to beat us if we just eliminated that 3-point line.We were willing to give up some things around the basket because theyre such a lethal, 3-point shooting team. We were willing to trade 2s with them and felt the only way we could lose was if they made 3.Hassan Martin paced the Rams (5-1) with a career-high 31 points while Jarvis Garrett added a season-high 23. Garrett also matched his career-high for 3-pointers with four.Martin shot a blistering 70 percent (14 of 20) from the field.Hassan was a monster, Hurley said.The Bruins (1-3), who played without leading scorer Evan Bradds (concussion), didnt have an answer for Martin.My main thing was to take advantage of their size, Martin said. I was looking forward to the matchup with Bradds. But once I got myself going I just didnt stop.Im surrounded by scorers which gives me space to operate. Im comfortable with my back to the basket.Nick Smith led Belmont with 17 points while Dylan Windler contributed a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.Rhode Island led by as many as 20 points early in the second half before Windler led a rally that pulled the Bruins within 58-52.Martin blunted that rally by scoring eight points during an 11-5 run.If youre not in a Power 5 conference these are the type of nonconference games you have to play, Hurley said. You have to take risks. You have to play games against people that have the potential to make the (NCAA) Tournament.BIG PICTUREBelmont: The Bruins have won more than 20 games and earned a postseason tournament berth in 10 of the last 11 years. They began the season as one of only seven non-Power 5 programs to earn national Top 25 poll votes and post a Top 100 RPI in each of the last six seasons.Rhode Island: After splitting two games against ranked teams (including then-No. 1 Duke) in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament, the Thanksgiving Day break was a welcome respite for the Rams who had played five games in 10 days. No Ram needed the break more than E.C. Matthews, who underwent surgery early last season to repair a torn ACL and played on consecutive days for the first time in 20 months in the Tip-Off Tournament.POLL IMPLICATIONS: By defeating a quality, mid-major school, Rhode Island ensured it should remain in the Top 25 for a fifth consecutive week.STAT OF THE NIGHT: Belmont stepped on the Ryan Center court shooting 44.2 percent (80 of 181) from beyond the 3-point arc. But Rhode Islands man-to-man defense held the Bruins to 18.5 percent (5 of 27) from 3-point range.HIGHLIGHT REEL: Martin flashed his athletic ability early in the first half when he flipped the ball over his head, off the glass and in the basket.STAR WATCH: Smith had the thankless task of making his first start in place of Bradds, who was sidelined with a concussion. Smith scored 17 points, one shy of his career high, and shot 50 percent from the field (5 of 10).TURNING POINT: The Bruins had reduced what was a 20-point deficit to 58-52 with 12:04 remaining. Martin then took control of the game and scored eight points that keyed an 11-5 Rhode Island run for a 69-57 lead. Seven points was the closest Belmont would get after that run.LETDOWN: Matthews began play as Rhode Islands leading scorer (17.4, but he experienced a rare off night by scoring six points.UP NEXT:The Bruins, who host Lipscomb on Nov. 29, still have seven nonconference games on their schedule before they play their first Ohio Valley Conference game Dec. 31 against Austin Peay. How they fare in this portion of their schedule may serve as an indication of their chances of winning the conference title.The Rams, who are ranked for a fourth consecutive week for only the third time since the AP poll was instituted in 1949, face three severe tests when they play road games at Valparaiso and in-state rival Providence before returning home Dec. 6 against Old Dominion. Cheap Shoes NZ . 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HOUSTON -- Daryl Macon scored a career-high 23 points, and Arkansas fought off Texas for its sixth straight win, 77-74, Saturday.Macon, whose previous career high was 17 against Houston on Dec. 6, was 14 of 14 from the free-throw line to lead the Razorbacks, who made 29 of 31 free throws.It was a game of runs, and I thought we did a good job of getting to the free-throw line and making those free throws, Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said.Dusty Hannahs added 15 points and Jaylen Barford had 11 points for Arkansas (9-1), which won nine of its first ten games for the second time in the last seven years.This showed we are growing still, Hannahs said. We have a lot of work to do. We are at a B, but we want to get to an A-plus.Tevin Mack had 20 points and 12 rebounds, Andrew Jones added 17 points and Kerwin Roach, Jr., had 12 points for the Longhorns (5-5), who shot 19 of 32 from the free-throw line. Jarrett Allen had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Texas.Trailing by nine, the Longhorns used a 9-2 spurt to cut the lead to 73-71 with 41 seconds left on a Jones free throw. But Arlando Cook hit two free throws with 38 seconds remaining, and Roach missed a layup on the other end before Macon hit two free throws to push the lead to six.It went to the last possession, and defense had to finish it off for us, Anderson said. I thought in the second half we got into a much better rhythm, and we got the game going up and down the court.Mack nailed a 3 with 16 seconds left to cut the Razorbacks lead to three, and Texas forced an Arkansas turnover onn the inbounds, but Roachs 3-pointer at the buzzer was short.ddddddddddddWe tried to run a play for a 3 for Tevin, Texas coach Shaka Smart said. Arkansas did a good job of defending. We tried to get him the ball, but he wasnt open. Our guys moved the ball. We werent able to get a good look.Texas took a 35-30 lead into halftime led by eight points apiece from Mack and Jones.TAKEAWAYSArkansas: The Razorbacks overcame sluggish shooting in the first half, hitting 27 percent from the field, including 1 of 9 from behind the arc. Arkansas shot 46 percent in the second half. The Razorbacks got their first win over a Power 5 conference team this season.Texas: The Longhorns continued to struggle on the road this season, falling to 0-4 away from Austin. Texas played good defense, forcing the Razorbacks into 36 percent shooting, but the Longhorns got four points from their bench.HE SAID ITTheres no excuses. Either you win or you lose. Even when you win and even when you lose, there are certain components of the process that you feel good about or feel like you have do better. We are always going to try to do better. -- Texas Smart about using youth as an excuse for losses.UP NEXTArkansas: Hosts North Dakota State on Tuesday and Sam Houston State on Thursday before starting SEC play against Florida on Dec. 29.Texas: Hosts UAB on Wednesday and Kent State on Dec. 27 before starting Big 12 play Dec. 30 at Kansas State. ' ' '