Men's Basketball 3/2/2012 12:00:00 AM

Rhode Island Closes Out 2011-12 on Saturday at UMass

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RHODE ISLAND VERSUS MASSACHUSETTS

Rhode Island closes out the 2011-12 season with the second of two games against long-time rival Massachusetts.
UMass holds a 79-58 advantage in the all-time series record, which dates back to the 1907-08 season.
The Rams snapped a three-game slide versus the Minutemen on Feb. 1, earning an 81-78 overtime victory at the Thomas M. Ryan Center in Kingston.
UMass is Rhody's third-most common opponent, as the two teams have met on 137 previous occasions.
Rhody is 21-47 all-time in games played in Amherst.

RHODE ISLAND IN THE ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

Since its inaugural season in the conference during the 1980-81 season, Rhode Island has posted a 232-279 (.454)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.

SENIOR NIGHT ANT-SANITY

Senior Anthony Malhoit poured in career-highs of 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists and 29 minutes of play in his final home appearance on Feb. 29 against Fordham.
The 6-3 guard from Waterford, Conn. connected on 8-of-11 shots from the floor - including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
The 72.7% field goal percentage was the highest by a Rhody player this season.
Entering the game, Malhoit had appeared in 43 games, earning the start on four occasions, totalling 14 field goals, four 3-pointers, and 40 total points.
A former walk-on, Malhoit earned a scholarship for his unselfish play and tireless work ethic over the past three seasons.

OUTERBRIDGE REACHES TRIPLE DIGITS IN BLOCKED SHOTS

With his three blocks vs. Fordham on Feb. 29, Orion Outerbridge became just the 10th player in Rhody history to block more 100 shots in his career.
The 6-9 senior now has 101 career blocks, putting him in 10th place. Delroy James sits in ninth place, with 104 swats.
Outerbridge has 56 blocks on the season - which also ranks 8th 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.
Outerbridge ranks fourth in the Atlantic 10 and 54th nationally in blocked shots, averaging 1.9 swats per game.
This season, Outerbridge has registered three or more blocks in a game eight times. For his career, he has blocked 3+ shots 12 times.
He has led the Rams in blocks in 22 games this season and on 36 occasions during his career.

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

Rhode Island's 58 rebounds last time out versus Fordham was the fourth-highest single-game total in school history and the highest single game rebounding total in six years.
Previously, the Rams had 56 rebounds in an overtime loss to Houston on Nov. 13, 2006.
The single-game record is 65 rebounds, set on Feb. 15, 1968 against New Hampshire.

LAST TIME OUT - RHODE ISLAND 64, SAINT LOUIS 62 (FEB. 25)

Anthony Malhoit poured in career-highs in scoring (21 points), rebounds (9 boards), and minutes played (29).
The 6-3 guard from Waterford, Conn. was 8-of-11 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from 3-point land and 2-of-2 from the foul line.
Orion Outerbridge registered his fifth double-double of the season and sixth of his career with 15 points and a career-best 13 rebounds. He also blocked three shots – putting him over the 100 swat mark for his career.
Mike Powell added 11 points – his 11th double-digit scoring game.
Jonathan Holton grabbed 12 rebounds – his ninth game with 10 or more rebounds.
URI held Fordham to just 31.6% shooting from the floor (25-79), including just a 24.3% mark in the first half.
It was the second straight Rhody opponent to shoot 35.0% or lower and the lowest FG% defensive mark since URI held Fordham to just 29.1% from the field on Feb. 2, 2011 at the Meadowlands.
Billy Baron dished out a collegiate-best seven assists. He also had eight points and five rebounds.
Dominique McKoy continued his improved play for the Rams, adding eight points and seven rebounds. In the month of February, McKoy is averaging 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds off the bench.
Fordham blocked 10 Rhody shots on the night. They also registered eight steals.
Rhode Island posted its sixth game with a positive assist/turnover ratio. URI had 14 assists to just 11 turnovers.

CLEANING THE GLASS WITH A SPONGE

Over the last 13 games, Jonathan Holton has a total of 130 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 March 1) in rebounding, at 8.0 per game and is second in the league in conference games only, with a 9.1 rebounds per game average.

FRESHMEN MAKING AN IMPACT

Jonathan Holton ranks sixth among all frosh nationally in rebounding, pulling down 8.0 boards per game
Holton is also 28th among all freshmen in blocked shots (1.1 bpg).
Mike Powell is 22nd among all frosh in assists per game (3.6) and 41st in minutes per game (30.8).
Rhody's newcomers account for 38% of the team's scoring, 41% of rebounding, and 59% of assist totals.

7'3" HIGH, 20'6" AWAY

Sophomore Blake Vedder became the second tallest player in NCAA Division I history to hit a 3-pointer when he connected from deep on Feb. 18 at St. Bonaventure.
BYU's Shawn Bradley is the tallest player to hit a 3FG in a college game, as he hit the lone 3-pointers of his career on Feb. 16, 1991 at Utah.

BARON HOT FROM THE FREE THROW LINE

Billy Baron has connected on 60 of his last 68 free throw attempts (88.2%), dating back to Dec. 29.
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 83.1% from the line (64-77).
While under the minimum for games played, Baron's season percentage would rank him sixth overall in the A-10.
He ranks seventh in A-10 games only, with an 83.9% (47-56).

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.

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
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.
Holton was also named A-10 Rookie of the Week on Nov. 28, Jan. 16, and Jan. 23.
It was the 5th straight week a URI rookie earned A-10 honors; 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 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 at least twice in the same season.

OVERTIME

With the Feb. 1 overtime win over Massachusetts, URI has played in five overtime games (six 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 2-3 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.
Orion Outerbridge forced the extra frame in the last two - a putback layup with 1:10 left vs. St. Bonaventure and a jumper with 29 ticks remaining against UMass.

BILLY BALL

Billy Baron has scored in double-figures in 12 of his last 18 games and leads the team in scoring (13.4 ppg)
The 6-2 guard had a collegiate-high 25 points at Dayton, connecting on 7-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.
Baron leads the Rams with five 20+ scoring games and third on the team with 11 double-digit scoring 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.
Powell also earned weekly rookie honors from the A-10 on Jan. 2.

NOW TRENDING: ASSIST/TURNOVER RATIO

Through the Runnin' Rams first 30 games, they have posted more assists than turnovers six times - vs. Fordham (14/11), 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 0.76:1 assist/turnover ratio (331 assists/436 turnovers)
URI is averaging 14.5 turnovers, while dishing out 11.0 assists per game.
Last season, in games with a positive assist/turnover ratio, Rhody was 12-3.

DEFENSIVE WOES

The Runnin' Rams rank 315th out of 339 in scoring defense, allowing 75.0 points per game.
Rhode Island is also 327th in defensive field goal percentage, allowing opponents to shoot 47.7% from the floor.
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 30 games.
Rams' opponents have shot 50.0% or better from the floor in a full game on 13 occasions this season.

MALONE OUT DUE TO ACADEMICS

Junior guard Andre Malone has been ruled ineligible due to an unresolved academic matter.
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

MALHOIT "THE MICROWAVE"

At Charlotte on Feb. 11, Anthony Malhoit tallied five points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal in 22 minutes of play.
He earned his third start of the year vs. Yale and registered career highs in rebounds (8) and minutes (27)
The 6-3 guard had a career-high seven points in 12 minutes, connecting on his first career 3FG, vs. Hofstra on Nov. 25.
Malhoit registered a career-high three steals in 17 minutes off the bench at Boston College.

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.

BARON SECOND ON RHODY WINS LIST

Head coach Jim Baron ranks second on Rhode Island's all-time wins list with 184.
He moved into second place on the URI all-time wins list on March 17, 2010, with the team's 76-64 victory over Northwestern in the opening round of the NIT
Baron passed Ernie Calverley, who compiled 154 career victories at the helm of the Rams from 1957-68.

20 YEARS IN A-10 FOR BARON

This season marks the 20th for Jim Baron as a head coach in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Baron served as head coach at his alma mater – St. Bonaventure – from 1992-2001, before arriving at URI
During that span he has been named A-10 Coach of the Year four times.

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