Feb. 22, 2006

View Complete Game Notes vs. Saint Louis

Tonight's Game Rhode Island (12-11, 6-6 A-10) travels to Saint Louis (14-10, 8-4 A-10) looking for a victory, Wednesday, after going 1-5 in its last six games. Since the two teams met on Feb. 1 in the Ryan Center, the Rams have gone 1-3, with their three losses coming by a combined seven points. Despite senior forward Jamaal Wise's team-high fifth double-double of the season (12 points, 11 rebounds), URI dropped a 57-55 decision to visiting Saint Joseph's Saturday afternoon in its last game. Senior guard Dawan Robinson also added 11 points, but was held without a free throw for the first time this season. The Billikens have registered a 3-1 mark since its win over Rhode island, including a 56-51 over Temple, Saturday, in which freshman KEVIN LISCH scored a career-high 22 points.

Close Encounters
Ten of Rhode Island's 23 games this season have been decided by six-or-fewer points. The Rams' last four losses have been by a combined 12 points, including losses to Saint Louis (58-53), Massachusetts (63-61), Fordham (79-76 2OT) and Saint Joseph's (57-55). In those four games, URI only shot 60.0 percent (54-of-90) from the free throw line, 38.6 percent from the field and 23.9 percent from long range. Rhode Island was also slightly out-rebounded (-0.5) in those games, well below its +4.5 rebounding margin for the entire season that ranks it third in the Atlantic 10.

Injury Bug Bites Bitee
Sophomore guard Parfait Bitee will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to an injured right ankle suffered Feb. 1 against Saint Louis. Originally diagnosed as a bad sprain, an MRI showed a fractured bone that will need at least six to eight weeks to heal. Bitee was inserted into the starting lineup for the Rams third game of the season against Brown and started 17-straight games. Rhode Island's top defensive stopper, Bitee was averaging 6.3 points, 3.0 rebounds a .463 shooting percentage before getting hurt. The injury is the first major setback since last season when URI players missed a total of 93 games for medical reasons, including Jamaal Wise and Dawan Robinson who each sat out the entire year.

Xavier Game Time Changed
This Saturday's game with visiting Xavier, originally scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off, is slated to start at 7:00 p.m. in the Ryan Center.

Watch And Listen To The Rams Live
Wednesday's game will be broadcast by Atlantic 10 TV with scott graham (play by play) and mark adams (color) and televised locally in Rhode Island on Cox Cable Ch. 3, as well as several other regions around the country. You can also listen to all Rhode Island's games at home and on the road over the internet (www.GoRhody.com) or locally on WHJJ 920 AM with your hosts Steve McDonald (play-by-play) and Don Kaull (color).