Watch Live: YES Network - Ryan Ruocco / Pat O'Keefe
(Cox ch. 128 /1128 HD; FiOS 595 HD)

Listen Live - WHJJ 920 AM; The Wolf 102.3 FM - Steve McDonald / Don Kaull
The Beltone Hearing Aid Centers Rams Radio Network

Internet: iHeart.com (audio) | fordhamsports.com (video)

Gamenotes: Rhode Island/Fordham (pdf)

Follow the Rams on Twitter @RhodyMBB

RHODE ISLAND VERSUS FORDHAM

• Rhode Island faces Fordham in the lone regular season matchup between the Rams' squads.
• URI holds a 34-23 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to Jan. 3, 1942.  
• Last year, URI saw its eight-game win streak against Fordham snapped on Jan. 18, 2012 in a 66-64 loss at Rose Hill.
• Rhody followed it up with a 78-58 victory on Feb. 29, 2012 as Anthony Malhoit went for 21 points and nine rebounds.
• The Rams have won nine of their last 10 matchups against Fordham, dating back to March 8, 2007.
• Rhody is 16-14 all-time at Rose Hill Gym.

RHODE ISLAND IN THE ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

• Since its inaugural season in the conference during the 1980-81 season, Rhode Island has posted a 233-283 all-time record in Atlantic 10 play.  
• The Rams earned their first conference win at Saint Louis on Jan. 19, 82-80 in overtime.
• Last season, Rhody finished with a 4-12 mark in conference play, putting them in 13th place in the league standings.
• On Jan. 18, 2012 - at Fordham - Rhode Island played its 500th Atlantic 10 game all-time.

LAST TIME OUT - GEORGE WASHINGTON 66, RHODE ISLAND 65 - JANUARY 23

• Andre Malone carried the Rams offensively in the second half, making his first five shots from the floor en route to scoring 14 points to go along with three steals.  
• Despite playing with foul trouble, Xavier Munford finished with 20 points.  It was his eighth 20-point performance of the season.
• Munford added five assists and four rebounds.
• Nikola Malesevic also scored in double-digits, finishing with 16 points.  He was 5-of-9 from the floor and grabbed six boards.
• T.J. Buchanan provided his typical high-energy, dirty work performance. He had five points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 22 minutes.
• Jordan Hare finished three blocked shots and two steals. His lone basket of the night came on an alley-oop pass from Munford. It was Hare's team-leading 23rd dunk of the season.
• Rhode Island had uncharacteristic trouble handling the ball early, committing four turnovers in the first seven minutes. Rhody had just nine more turnovers over the final 33 minutes.
• Rhode Island shot 50 percent from the floor for the second straight game, connecting on 24-of-48 shots. Last time out against Saint Louis, the Rams made 55.1 percent as a team.
• However, the Rams struggled from the free throw line, hitting just 11-of-18 (61.1 percent).
• George Washington gave the Rams trouble down low, outscoring Rhody 32-20 in the paint. The Colonials enjoyed a 34-25 edge on the boards.

MUNFORD LEADS THE ATLANTIC 10 IN SCORING

• Junior guard Xavier Munford leads the Atlantic 10 in scoring, through games of Jan. 24.
• The Hillside, N.J. native checks in at 17.9 points per game, which also ranks him 53rd nationally.
• He has registered eight of Rhody's top ten scoring performances this season, including a 33-point effort at Auburn.
• He is third in scoring in Atlantic 10 games only, checking in at 19.3 points per game.
• Munford has posted eight games with 20 or more points - the most in the Atlantic 10 this season.
• Only one Rhody player - Carlton "Silk" Owens - ever finished the season atop the conference's scoring leaders (21.8 ppg, 1987-88).

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

• Today's Theme:  Comparisons through 17 games from 2011-12 & 2012-13, Potential Milestones, and Potpourri
• The Rams have lost by a combined 12 points in their three A-10 losses this season - an average of just 4.0 points.
• At this time last year, Rhody was 3-14, 0-4 in A-10 play,  and had lost by an average of close to 11.0 points per A-10 contest.
• The Rams' RPI and strength of schedule are also much improved this year: 152 and 25, respectively.  Last year, it was 260/96.
• Last season through 17 games, Mike Powell registered 57 assists and 50 turnovers.  This season, Powell again has 57 assists, but just 40 turnovers.
• If URI's field goal percentage defense mark of .404 holds up, it would be the lowest by a Ram team since the 1998-99 season.  That year, Rhody's FG% defensive mark was .398.
• Jordan Hare has 35 blocks so far this year - the most by a Rhody freshman since Antonio Reynolds-Dean blocked 59 shots during the 1995-96 season.
• In its last two games, Rhody has scored at better than 1.0 points per possession.  URI scored a season-high 1.22 PPP at Saint Louis, while registering a 1.05 PPP mark last time out against George Washington.

MUNFORD'S SECOND HALF SCORING

• Xavier Munford has scored in double figures in the second half in five of the last eight - and 10 overall - games for Rhode Island.
• On Jan. 9 at Richmond, he poured in 17 of his 25 points during the second half.
• It was the second time Munford had at least 17 second half points - he did so against Georgia State on Dec. 22, pouring in 12 straight points during a key 2:40 stretch.
• Munford also had 16 second half points at Virginia Tech and 15 at Auburn.
• For the season, 57% of Munford's scoring comes in the second half (10.2 of 17.9 points per game).

FROM THE STANDPOINT OF SHARING THE BASKETBALL

• Twice this season, Rhody has registered a season-high 17 assists - against SMU on Dec. 15 and at Saint Louis on Jan. 19.
• Against SMU, the Rams posted an assist percentage of 68.0% (17 assists/25 field goals) - the highest since March 16, 2011, when Rhody dished out 20 assists to 27 field goals (74.1%) made against Miami (Ohio).
• At Saint Louis, URI registered an assist on 63.0% of its made field goals (17 assists/27 field goals).
• Rhode Island is 5-3 when is registers double-digits in the assist column; 1-8 when it does not.

TURN AROUND ON THE TURNOVER COUNT

• Through their first 17 games, the Rams are averaging just 12.0 turnovers per contest - tied for 46th nationally.
• According to Ken Pomeroy's statistical analysis, Rhody's 18.9% turnover percentage (total TO/total possessions) ranks 89th nationally.
• A season ago, Rhode Island averaged 14.5 turnovers per game, which ranked 247th nationally.
• The Rams registered a season-low six turnovers against George Mason on Nov. 28.
• That was the lowest TO mark since Rhody committed a program record-low two turns against Nevada (March 22, 2010).
• Last season, Rhode Island had just eight games with 11 or fewer turnovers.

IMPROVED DEFENSIVE EFFORT IN 2012-13

• A major point of emphasis for head coach Dan Hurley is improving Rhody's defensive effort from last season.
• Last season, Rhody was one of the worst defensive teams in the country, ranking 321st out of 339 in scoring defense (75.5 points/game) and 324th in FG% defense (47.5%).
• In 2012-13, the Rams are allowing 11.1 fewer points per game and have lowered their defensive FG% to 41.8%.
• This season, the Rams have held seven opponents to 60 points or fewer, including a season-low 47 points allowed vs. Brown on Jan. 4.
• Rhode Island has allowed 70+ points just three times and 80+ points just once in regulation.
• Last year, Rhody allowed 70+ points 23 times (31 games),  80+ points 11 times, 90+ three times, and 100 once.

JORDAN HARE:  RANKS AMONG NATION'S BEST IN BLOCKED SHOTS

• Jordan Hare ranks third in the Atlantic 10 and is the seventh-best freshman shot blocker in the country (2.1 bpg).
• He put forth two of the top 10  best shot blocking performances by a frosh in consecutive games, swatting seven shots against Loyola (Md.) and followed that up with six swats against George Mason.
• Hare's seven blocks were the most by a Rhody player since Dec. 13, 1984 (7, Chris Scotti vs. Bryant).
• He also had one of the top rebounding performances this season by a freshman, with 16 against Loyola (Md.).
• He is one of just two players nationally to have a 16 rebound/7 blocked shot performance this season.