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Gamenotes: Rhode Island/Massachusetts (.pdf)

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• Rhode Island plays the first of two games against long-time rival Massachusetts.  
• UMass holds a 79-57 advantage in the all-time series record, which dates back to the 1907-08 season.  
• The Minutemen have won the last three meetings - and four of the last five - versus Rhode Island.
• UMass is Rhody's third-most common opponent, as the two teams have met on 136 previous occasions.  

RHODE ISLAND IN THE ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

• Since its inaugural season in the conference during the 1980-81 season, Rhode Island has posted a 229-274 (.455) all-time record in Atlantic 10 play.  
• Last season, Rhody finished with a 9-7 mark in conference play, good for sixth place in the league standings.
• On Jan. 18 at Fordham, Rhode Island played its 500th Atlantic 10 game all-time.

RHODE ISLAND AT THE THOMAS M. RYAN CENTER

• URI holds a 100-51 (.662) regular season record in the Ryan Center since the arena opened for play on Nov. 26, 2002 with a 73-71 victory over USC.
• Rhody's victory on Nov. 25 over Hofstra was the 100th on the Ryan Center floor.
• The Rams have won 11 or more home games in five of the last six seasons - including a program-record 15 in 2009-10.
• Prior to its loss to Boston University on Nov. 26, Rhode Island had captured its last 32 non-conference games at the Thomas M. Ryan Center, dating back to the 2006-07 season

HOLTON EARNS THIRD STRAIGHT/FOURTH OVERALL ATLANTIC 10 ROOKIE OF THE WEEK AWARD

• On Jan. 30, Jonathan Holton earned his third straight - and fourth overall - A-10 Rookie of the Week award
• He averaged a double-double - 16.0 points and 11.0 rebounds - over a two-game span for the Rams this past week.
• Sponge had 16 points and 11 rebounds at home against St. Bonaventure on Jan. 25.
• At Dayton on Jan. 28, Holton filled out the stat sheet with 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
• Through games of Jan. 30, Holton ranks second in the A-10 in rebounding, averaging 8.2 boards per game.
• Holton was also named A-10 Rookie of the Week on Nov. 28, Jan. 16, and Jan. 23.
• It is the fifth straight week a URI rookie earned A-10 accolades.  Mike Powell was Rookie of the Week on Jan. 2 and Jan. 9.
• It also marks the first time since the 1995-96 season that two different Rhody freshman earned weekly rookie honors from the A-10.  That season, both Antonio Reynolds-Dean and current URI assistant coach Preston Murphy were recognized by the conference.
• It is the first time in program history that two different URI players earned A-10 Rookie of the Week honors twice in the same season.  

CLEANING THE GLASS WITH A SPONGE

• Over the last five games, Jonathan Holton has a total of 69 rebounds - good for 13.8 boards per game during the span.
• Included in that total was a season-high 18 rebounds at Fordham on Jan. 18, which tied for the highest single-game total in the A-10 this season (Chris Gaston, Fordham, 18 vs. UMass).
• During the five-game span, Holton has registered four of his team-high six double-doubles.
• Among freshmen nationally, the 18 boards is tied for the second-highest single-game total.  Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of Kentucky had 19 rebounds in a game, while his teammate Anthony Davis had 18.
• The 18 boards were the most by a Rhody player since Kahiem Seawright had 19 versus Houston (Nov. 13, 2006).
• The last Rhody freshman with 18+ rebounds was Antonio Reynolds-Dean - 19 rebounds vs. Dayton on Jan. 14, 1996.
• The newcomer from Miami, Fla. ranks second in the Atlantic 10 (thru Jan. 30) in rebounding, at 8.2 per game.

TODAY'S RUNNIN' RAM FACT(S) THAT YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

• Jonathan Holton has registered five straight games with double-digits in the rebounding column - the first URI player to do since Antonio Reynolds-Dean during his sophomore year (1995-96).
• Jonathan Holton ranks fifth nationally in double-doubles among all freshmen, with five.  Kentucky's Anthony Davis tops the list with 11.
• Mike Powell's eight assists at Dayton were the most in a single-game by a Rhody frosh since Zach Marbury also had eight at Brown on Dec. 1, 1999.
• Powell is also on track to become the first Rhody freshman to register 100+ assists in a season since Tyson Wheeler had 135 in 1994-95.

LAST TIME OUT - RHODE ISLAND 86, DAYTON 81 (JAN. 28)

• Billy Baron picked up where former Ram guard Marquis Jones left off.  The sophomore poured in a career-high 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor.
• Baron knocked down 4-of-5 from 3-point land – including all three attempts from the perimeter in the second half.  He hit 7-of-8 from the foul line, while collecting four rebounds and three steal.
• Jonathan Holton – 16 points, 11 rebounds - registered his third straight double-double and fifth consecutive game with 11 or more boards.
• The Miami, Fla. native filled out the stat sheet, connecting on all eight free throw attempts, while tallying five assists and three steals.
• Two others – Orion Outerbridge (14 points) and Mike Powell (12 points) – also scored in double-digits.
• Outerbridge fouled out in just 27 minutes.  The 6-9 senior was assessed a technical foul after committing his fourth personal.  He knocked down 6-of-11 from the floor (2-5 3FG).
• Powell dished out a career-best eight assists – six of the dimes coming in the second frame.
• Rhody's 52.6% field goal percentage for the game was the second-best of the season.  On Nov. 25, URI connected on 56.1% at home versus Hofstra.
• The Rams have shot 50.0% of better three times.  They are 3-0 in those games.
• Rhody's bench was highly efficient tonight.  Dominique McKoy, Levan Shengelia, T.J. Buchanan, Blake Vedder, and Anthony Malhoit combined for 14 points and10 rebounds, while knocking down 7-of-9 from the floor.
• The Rams also had a positive assist-turnover ratio for just the fourth time this season.

MALONE OUT DUE TO ACADEMICS

• Junior guard Andre Malone has been ruled ineligible due to an unresolved academic matter.  His status remains under review.
• Due to Federal student privacy laws, URI is not able to comment or provide any further details at this time.
• Malone, a transfer from Auburn, joined the Rams on Dec. 23 and has appeared in 10 games for Rhode Island, earning the start in seven.  He is averaging 9.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest.

FRESHMEN MAKING AN IMPACT

• Jonathan Holton ranks fourth among all frosh nationally in rebounding, pulling down 8.2 boards per game
• Holton is also tied for 26th among all freshmen in blocked shots (1.1 bpg).
• Mike Powell is 17th among all frosh in assists per game (3.9).
• Rhody's newcomers account for 38% of the team's scoring, 41% of rebounding, and 61% of assist totals.

BARON HOT FROM THE FREE THROW LINE

• Billy Baron has connected on 35 of his last 37 free throw attempts, dating back to the Dec. 29 game vs. James Madison.
• Last time out at Dayton, Baron made 7-of-8 from the foul line.
• His streak of 23 straight made FT was snapped at La Salle on Jan. 21.
• Included in the streak was a 10-for-10 performance from the charity stripe at Boston College on Jan. 2.
• The sophomore guard ranks first on the team in free throw percentage, connecting on 84.8% from the line (39-46).

OVERTIME

• With the Jan. 25 overtime loss to St. Bonaventure, URI has played in four overtime games (five total OT periods) so far this season - the most since the 1985-86 campaign.  
• That year, the Rams played in six overtime games (seven total OT periods).
• Rhody is 1-3 in overtime games this season; the lone win coming in double OT at Boston College.
• In the first three OT contests this season, a freshman scored the game-tying points in regulation.
• At Boston College, Mike Powell connected on a FT with 21 seconds left to tie the game at 59-59.
• In the other two OT tilts, Powell (vs. Maine) and Jonathan Holton (at George Mason) tied the game in regulation with a 3-point field goal.
• Last time out, Orion Outerbridge forced an extra frame versus the Bonnies with a putback layup with 1:10 left.

MIKE POWELL, FOR STARTERS

• In his last 11 starts, freshman PG Mike Powell is averaging 12.0 points - third-most on the team during that span.
• He posted back-to-back career-highs of 21 points at UCF on Dec. 30 and at Boston College on Jan. 2.
• Over the 11-game span, Powell is also averaging 3.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals per contest.
• Powell was named Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Week on consecutive weeks (Jan. 2 and Jan. 9).
• On Jan. 28 at Dayton, Powell dished out a career-high eight assists.

BILLY BALL

• Billy Baron has scored in double-figures in eight of his last 10 games and leads the team in scoring (14.1 ppg)
• The 6-2 guard had a collegiate-high 25 points at Dayton, connecting on7-of-12 from the field.
• He was also 4-5 from 3-point land, including 3-of-3 in the second half, and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
• In his 11 games, Baron is also averaging 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals.

DEFENSIVE WOES

• The Runnin' Rams rank 321st out of 339 in scoring defense, allowing 75.5 points per game.
• Rhode Island is also 328th in defensive field goal percentage, allowing opponents to shoot 48.5% from the floor
• URI is 249th in defensive 3-point FG percentage, as the opposition is connecting on 35.7% from the perimeter
• Rhody opponents have scored 80 or more points seven times, 90+ three times, and 100 once.
• Rhody has allowed an opponent to shoot 50.0% or better in a single half of play in 18 of its 22 games.

POWELL NAMED CO-ATLANTIC 10 ROOKIE OF THE WEEK AGAIN

• The Atlantic 10 selected Mike Powell as its Co-Rookie of the Week on Jan. 9 - his second such honor of the season.
• Powell averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 assists in a 1-1 week for Rhode Island.  
• He matched his career-high of 21 points in a 78-72 double OT win at Boston College on Jan. 2.  
• The Chicago native also added seven rebounds and three assists versus the Eagles.
• Powell also earned weekly rookie honors from the A-10 on Jan. 2.
• He becomes the second Ram to earn A-10 Rookie of the Week honors, as Jonathan Holton was honored by the league on Nov. 28, Jan. 16, and Jan. 23.

NOW TRENDING: ASSIST/TURNOVER RATIO

• Through the Runnin' Rams first 22 games, they have posted more assists than turnovers four times - at Dayton (Jan. 28), at George Washington (Jan. 11), vs. Providence (Dec. 23) and vs. Hofstra (Nov. 25).
• On the season, URI has a 0.77:1 assist/turnover ratio (250 assists/325 turnovers)
• URI is averaging 14.8 turnovers, while dishing out 11.4 assists per game.
• Last season, in games with a positive assist/turnover ratio, Rhody was 12-3.

BROOKS TO MISS REMAINDER OF SEASON DUE TO ACADEMICS

• Junior Ryan Brooks will miss the remainder of the season due to academics.
• Brooks was ruled academically ineligible prior to the Dec. 29 game versus James Madison.
• The 6-7 forward averaged 0.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in seven games this season.

WILSON DISMISSED FROM TEAM

• On Dec. 27, head coach Jim Baron announced that senior guard Jamal Wilson has been dismissed from the Rhode Island men's basketball team due to a violation of team rules
• Wilson had been the team's leading scorer, averaging 16.4 points in 11 games played.
• He poured in a career-high 38 points in the season opener at George Mason on Nov. 11 and was named A-10 Player of the Week on Nov. 14
• The Norristown, Pa. native was suspended prior to the Dec. 18 Yale game - also for a violation of team rules.

THE FRANTIC FIVE - RHODY'S FIVE FRESHMEN

• Rhody's five-player freshman class had its regular season debut on Nov. 11 at George Mason.
• Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal dubbed them the "Frantic Five" due to the Runnin' Rams uptempo style
• Powell became the first true freshman to start for the Rams as a pure point guard since Tyson Wheeler in 1994-95.
• Holton's 14 boards tied the highest rebounding total in a URI debut since Lamar Odom had 14 vs. TCU (Nov. 9, 1998)
• Additionally, Holton and Odom are the only two Rhody players to record a double-double in points and rebounds in their Rhody debuts.  Holton had 12 points and 14 boards; Odom 19 points and 14 rebounds.
• The Rams have featured three frosh in the starting five on several occasions; six games with Powell, Holton, and Buchanan and once with Powell, Buchanan and McKoy.

A-10 PRESEASON POLL:  RAMS PICKED 10TH

• Rhode Island was picked to finish 10th among the 14 teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, according to the league's annual preseason poll.
• The poll, voted on by A-10 head coaches and media, was released during the A-10's annual Media Day on October 13.  
• Xavier tops the poll, followed by Temple, Saint Louis, St. Bonaventure, and Richmond.  

NEXT UP:  TEMPLE (FEB. 4)

• Rhode Island hosts Temple in a game that will be televised live nationally on ESPN2.  
• Marc Kestecher and LaPhonso Ellis will provide the broadcast call, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Thomas M. Ryan Center
• Rhody fans can listen to the game live on the Beltone Hearing Aid Centers Rams Radio Network (WHJJ 920 AM; The Wolf 102.3 FM), with Steve McDonald and Don Kaull.
• This - and all Rhody games on radio - can be heard on the internet or your iPhone/Blackberry/Android device with the iHeartRadio app.  Download the app at:  iHeart.com