Men's Basketball 2/24/2012 12:00:00 AM

Rhode Island, Saint Louis Face Off on Saturday Afternoon

Gamenotes: Rhode Island/Saint Louis (.pdf)

Watch Live: CBS Sports Network Regional - James Bates, Steve Wolf

Other Clearances: Cox Sports (R.I.); Comcast Sportsnet New England; Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia; Comcast Sportsnet Southeast; Charter Communications (St. Louis)

Listen Live: Beltone Hearing Aid Centers Rams Radio Network

(WHJJ 920 AM; The Wolf 102.3 FM) | Steve McDonald, Don Kaull

Internet: iHeart.com (Audio) | GoRhody.com (Live Stats)

Social Media: Like the Runnin' Rams on Facebook | Follow the Runnin' Rams on Twitter

RHODE ISLAND VERSUS SAINT LOUIS

Today's game is the lone regular season meeting between the Rams and the Billikens.
The all-time series between the two schools, which began during the 2005-06 season, is tied at 5-5.
Rhode Island has captured the last three meetings between the two schools, dating back to the 2009-10 season.
Last year, the Rams earned their first-ever victory at Saint Louis, in a 59-57 victory at Chaifetz Arena on Jan. 26, 2011.
URI also earned a 70-61 victory over SLU in the opening round of the 2011 A-10 Championship, on March 8, 2011 at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.

RHODE ISLAND IN THE ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

Since its inaugural season in the conference during the 1980-81 season, Rhode Island has posted a 230-279 (.452) 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 101-53 (.656) 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.

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

Blake Vedder became the second tallest player in NCAA Division I history to hit a 3-pointer, last time out at St. Bonaventure.
BYU's Shawn Bradley is the tallest player to hit a 3FG in a college game, connecting from 19'9" during the 1990-91 season.
Last time out at St. Bonaventure, Mike Powell registered his third 20+ point performance of the season - the most since Dawan Robinson in 2002-03.
That year, Robinson scored 20 or more points on four occasions.
Jonathan Holton leads the Rams with 24 steals. He is poised to become the first Rhody frosh since Keith Cothran in 2006-07 to lead the team in swipes. That season, Cothran registered 37 steals in 23 games played.

LAST TIME OUT - ST. BONAVENTURE 81, RHODE ISLAND 61 (FEB. 18)

Mike Powell led the Rams with 20 points – connecting on 7-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-4 from the perimeter. He also added a team-high four assists.
It was one point off Powell's career-high and marked the third time he scored 20 or more points in a single-game.
Jonathan Holton grabbed eight rebounds in 24 minutes of play.
In the first half, Rhody's bench scored 20 of its 26 points. For the game, Rams' reserves tallied 31 points, led by Nikola Malesevic's 14 points.
Blake Vedder saw his most significant action of his Ram career – 15 minutes – and responded with five points, two rebounds, and a steal.
Rhode Island knocked down 19-of-24 free throw attempts (79.2%), while St. Bonaventure was even better – connecting at a 91.7% clip (22-for-24).
For the 13th time in 28 games, Rhode Island allowed an opponent to shoot 50.0% or better from the floor and yielded 80 or more points for the 10th time.

OUTERBRIDGE MOVES INTO TOP 10 ON RHODY'S CAREER BLOCKS LIST

With his two blocks vs. Saint Joseph's on Feb. 15, Orion Outerbridge moved into URI's top 10 career blocks list.
The 6-9 senior now has 95 career blocks, putting him in 10th place. Delroy James sits in ninth place, with 104 swats.
Outerbridge has 50 blocks on the season - which also ranks 9th on Rhody's top 10 single-season record book.
He is the first Rhody player since Antonio Reynolds-Dean to block 50 or more shots in a single season.
AR-D had 50 blocks during the 1996-97 campaign.
Outerbridge ranks fourth in the Atlantic 10 and 61st nationally in blocked shots, averaging 1.8 swats per game.

CLEANING THE GLASS WITH A SPONGE

Over the last 11 games, Jonathan Holton has a total of 110 rebounds - good for 10.0 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).
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.
During the span, Holton has registered five of his team-high seven double-doubles.
The newcomer from Miami, Fla. ranks fifth in the Atlantic 10 (thru Feb. 24) in rebounding, at 7.9 per game and is second in the league in conference games only, with a 9.2 rebounds per game average.

FRESHMEN MAKING AN IMPACT

Jonathan Holton ranks sixth among all frosh nationally in rebounding, pulling down 7.9 boards per game
Holton is also 27th among all freshmen in blocked shots (1.1 bpg).
Mike Powell is 22nd among all frosh in assists per game (3.7).
Rhody's newcomers account for 38% of the team's scoring, 41% of rebounding, and 59% of assist totals.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE-DOUBLE YOUR FUN

A Rhody player registered a double-double in points and rebounds for five straight games - from Jan. 21-Feb. 4.
Versus Temple, Jonathan Holton had 13 points and 13 rebounds - his team-best seventh double-double.
On Feb. 1, Orion Outerbridge registered his fourth double-double with 29 points and 11 rebounds against UMass.
Holton began the double-double streak with 18 points and 17 boards at LaSalle on Jan. 21.
He also had 16 points and 11 rebounds vs. St. Bonaventure (Jan. 25) and 16 points and 11 boards at Dayton (Jan. 28).
Rhody's streak of five straight games with a player registering a double-double is the longest since the 1995-96 season.
That season, the Rams had at least one player tally a double-double in six straight games, from Jan. 20 through Feb. 6.
Jonathan Holton ranks tied for fourth among all freshmen nationally with seven double-doubles. Kentucky's Anthony Davis tops the list, with 11.
Holton's seven double-doubles is the most by a Rhody player since Luther Clay had seven during the 1999-2000 season.
Dating back to the 1995-96 season, it ranks as the third-most double-doubles by a Rhody newcomer.
Lamar Odom had 17 in his lone year in Keaney Blue (1998-99), while Antonio Reynolds-Dean tallied 14 in his rookie season in 1995-96.

BARON HOT FROM THE FREE THROW LINE

Billy Baron has connected on 51 of his last 58 free throw attempts, dating back to the Dec. 29 game vs. James Madison.
Last time out at Charlotte, 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 82.1% from the line (55-67).
While under the minimum for games played, Baron's season percentage would rank him sixth overall in the A-10.
He ranks 10th in A-10 games only, with an 82.6% (38-46).

HOLTON EARNS 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 frosh earned A-10 Rookie honors That season, 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.

DEFENSIVE WOES

The Runnin' Rams rank 325th out of 339 in scoring defense, allowing 75.9 points per game.
Rhode Island is also 334th in defensive field goal percentage, allowing opponents to shoot 49.0% from the floor
URI is 237th 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 10 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 24 of its 28 games.
Rams' opponents have shot 50.0% or better from the floor in a full game on 13 occasions this season.

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.

NOW TRENDING: ASSIST/TURNOVER RATIO

Through the Runnin' Rams first 28 games, they have posted more assists than turnovers five times - vs. Saint Joseph's (12/10), at Dayton (17/12), at George Washington (9/8), vs. Providence (14/11) and vs. Hofstra (18/12).
On the season, URI has a 0.74:1 assist/turnover ratio (283 assists/375 turnovers)
URI is averaging 14.9 turnovers, while dishing out 11.0assists per game.
Last season, in games with a positive assist/turnover ratio, Rhody was 12-3.

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.

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.

NEXT UP: FORDHAM (FEB. 29)

Rhode Island closes out its regular season home schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 29 when it hosts Fordham at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.
Tipoff time is set for 7 p.m. and the game that can be seen live on Cox Sports with Eric Frede and Abu Bakr.
The game is also the final home appearance for seniors Orion Outerbridge and Anthony Malhoit.
Prior to the game, the annual Senior Day Ceremony will be held on the Ryan Center court, beginning at approximately 6:45 p.m.
Rhody fans can listen to the game live on the Beltone Hearing Aid Centers Rams Radio Network (B101 101.5 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

Print Friendly Version