Men's Basketball 11/22/2012 12:00:00 AM

Rhode Island Hosts Loyola (Md.) on Friday Night

Watch Live: OSN (Cox ch. 5/1005 HD) - Mike Mancuso / Chris DiSano

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Internet: iHeart.com (audio); coxsportsonline.com (video)

Gamenotes: Rhode Island/Loyola (Md.) (pdf)

Tickets: ExperienceRhody.com (online) / Ryan Center box office (401) 874-RAMS

RHODE ISLAND VS. LOYOLA (MD.)

Tonight's game marks the third time the Rams and Greyhounds meet on the hardwood.
Rhody holds a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series.
The first meeting between the two schools came on Dec. 6, 1946; an 84-55 decision in Kingston.
URI captured the last meeting - 91-71 - on Dec. 31, 1989 at Keaney Gymnasium.

RHODE ISLAND IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY

Since joining the Eastern 8 in the 1980-81 season, URI has posted a 247-202 mark in non-conference play.
Dating back to the 2006-07 season, the Rams have posted a 64-40 record versus out-of-conference opponents.

RHODE ISLAND VS. THE MAAC

The Rams are 34-19 all-time versus Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents.
On Dec. 20, 2009, Rhode Island earned a 89-84 victory over Fairfield at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.
URI has faced Manhattan the most of any MAAC opponent - 21 games.

RHODE ISLAND IN IN-SEASON TOURNAMENTS

Dating back to the 1949-50 season, Rhode Island is 62-68 (.477) all-time in in-season tournaments.
URI has dropped the first three games of the Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic.
Last season, the Rams were 2-4 in the TicketCity Legends Classic and the UCF Holiday Classic.

RHODE ISLAND AT THE THOMAS M. RYAN CENTER

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Ryan Center - the home of URI men's and women's basketball.
URI holds a 103-54 (.660) regular season record in the Ryan Center since the arena opened for play on Nov. 26, 2002 with a 73-71 victory over USC.
Last season's victory over Hofstra on Nov. 25, 2011 was the 100th on the Ryan Center floor.
The Rams have won 11 or more home games on five occasions - including a program-record 15 in 2009-10.

LAST TIME OUT - SETON HALL 69, RHODE ISLAND 50 (NOV. 18)

Rhody led for the first 39 minutes of the contest, playing shorthanded due to the suspension of senior Nikola Malesevic (violation of team policy), but the Pirates closed the game on a 16-3 run over the final six minutes of play.
Mike Powell led the Rams with his 19 points - connecting on 5-of-6 from the perimeter and 2-of-3 from the line. For his efforts, he was named to the Hall of Fame Tipoff All-Tournament team.
Andre Malone added 12 points in 40 minutes. He entered the weekend having connected on just 1-of-10 from 3-point land - and hit 5-of-10 over the two-game span at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Alwayne Bigby gave the team some valuable minutes off the bench. The graduate transfer from Northeastern had seven points and six rebounds - including three on the offensive glass.
Seton Hall held a 26-7 advantage in free throw attempts. Rhody was whistled for 21 fouls, compared to 15 for the Pirates.
Ryan Brooks set another rebounding career-high, pulling down nine rebounds.

TODAY'S RHODE ISLAND BASKETBALL FACT(S) YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

Today's Theme: Outside Shooting
Entering this past weekend's Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic games, Rhody was shooting just over 17% from 3-point land (7-of-41).
The Rams ranked 336th out of 345 Division I programs in the country after two games. They moved up 70 spots after the weekend.
Rhody combined to shoot 16-for-37 from the perimeter against Ohio State and Seton Hall - a 43.2% clip.
Andre Malone - who entered the weekend 1-for-10 from beyond the arc - was a combined 5-for-10 against Ohio State and Seton Hall.
Mike Powell - 0-6 from 3FG in his first two games - was 7-for-12 in both games at Mohegan Sun Arena.