Box Score TUCSON, Ariz. - Division II's top-ranked team Metro State lost a 14-point first-half lead and fell 66-63 to Division I Rhode Island on Monday in Tucson, Ariz., in the first round of the NIT Season Tip-Off. The game was an exhibition for the Roadrunners, while URI improved to 3-1.

Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) was nearly unstoppable, scoring a game-high 19 points and hitting 8-of-11 from the floor, while pulling down 12 rebounds to also leading all players. Freshman Harrison Goodrick (Sydney, Australia/St. Joseph's College Hunter's Hill) came off the bench to score 16 points and grab four rebounds. Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) and Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) also scored in double figures with 11 points each. Jefferson had a team-high five assists.

The Roadrunners won the turnover battle 9-to-16, but were outrebounded 42-to-27 as the Rams took advantage of their size and athleticism in the post.

McCarron started the game off with a 3-pointer on his way to 14 first-half points. The Roadrunners led by as many as 14 points and took a 40-30 lead into halftime after forcing 12 Rams turnovers.

URI opened the second half on a 21-5 run to take a 51-45 lead through 10 minutes.

The Roadrunners answered back to tie the game at 57-57 with 4:47 left after a free throw by McCarron. The Rams made 5-of-6 free throws in the final 36 seconds to pull away.

Metro State shot just 33.3 percent in the second half after hitting at a 51.9 percent clip in the first.

Xavier Munford and E.C. Matthews led Rhode Island with 16 points each.

Metro State will be back in action at 6 p.m. on Tuesday against the loser of No. 6/5 Arizona and Fairleigh Dickinson.