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University of Rhode Island

Men's Basketball

Rhode Island, Massachusetts Meet for 139th Time this Wednesday Night in Amherst

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RHODE ISLAND VERSUS MASSACHUSETTS

  • Rhode Island plays the first of two regular season meetings against long-time rival Massachusetts.  
  • UMass holds an 80-58 advantage in the all-time series record, which dates back to the 1907-08 season.  
  • Last year, the two teams won on their respective home court.  Rhody earned an 81-78 overtime victory on Feb. 1, while UMass won 89-83 on March 3 in Amherst.
  • The Minutemen are the Rams' third-most common opponent, as the two teams have met on 138 previous occasions.  
  • Rhody is 21-48 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 233-286 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 - #9/10 BUTLER 75, RHODE ISLAND 68 - FEBRUARY 2

  • Nikola Malesevic led Rhody with 18 points - his highest scoring output since Dec. 22 (22 points vs. Georgia State).  
  • The 6-7 senior was 5-of-10 from the floor and a perfect 7-of-7 from the line to go along with six boards.
  • Mike Powell and Xavier Munford each added 14 points.  Powell knocked down 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.  
  • Munford - the A-10's second-leading scorer - struggled from the floor (3-of-13) but was efficient from the line (7-8).
  • Rhody earned their keep with 14 second-chance points.  They grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, led by four by Malesevic.
  • The Rams also forced Butler into 15 turnovers, while committing just 12 of their own.
  • Jordan Hare added eight points before fouling out in 22 minutes of play.  He connected on 4-of-5 field goals for the game, pushing his shooting percentage to 90.0% for the week (9-of-10).
  • The Rams played their seventh single-digit outcome in as many games in A-10 play.  
  • The two teams combined for 44 fouls whistled and 55 free throws attempted.
  • Rhode Island connected on 85.7% (24-28 FT) from the charity stripe.  Butler was slightly better, going 24-of-27 (88.9%).

CLOSE CALLS

  • Since the start of Atlantic 10 play, Rhode Island has played seven single-digit contests with an average scoring margin of 3.7 points.
  • Rhody's six conference losses have come by a total of 29 points - an average of 4.8 points.
  • Three of the Rams' six A-10 losses have been by three points or less.
  • URI earned an 82-80 overtime victory at Saint Louis on Jan. 19.
  • Through its first seven A-10 contests last year, Rhody had lost by an average of close to 11.0 points per game.

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

  • Today's Theme: Playing the Percentages and Averages
  • Rhode Island connected on 24-of-28 from the free throw line last time out at Butler - the highest FT% in a game (min. 25 FTA) since the 1996-97 season, when the Rams connected on 24-of-26 from the foul line at #18 Texas on Nov. 27, 1996.
  • Jordan Hare leads Rhode Island in FG%, connecting on close to 60.0% from the floor this season.  Over his last five games, he is shooting 16-of-19 from the field - good for 84.2%.
  • The Rams have 16 fast break points over their last two games.  URI totaled 20 points on the break over its previous seven games.
  • Mike Powell leads the A-10 and ranks 18th nationally in minutes played, averaging 36.8 minutes per game.  Powell has played less than 32 minutes just once - 29 minutes against George Washington.

T.J. TURNING IT UP

  • Sophomore T.J. Buchanan posted back-to-back season-highs against Fordham and VCU.
  • Against VCU on Jan. 30, Buchanan tallied 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor (2-3 3FG).
  • His 3-pointer with just under a minute remaining capped off a late 13-4 Rhody run.
  • On Jan. 26 at Fordham, the Kalamazoo, Mich. native had 10 points (2-4 FG; 1-2 3FG; 5-6 FT)
  • His 3-pointer with1:45 left in the second half gave Rhody its final lead of the game - at 63-62.
  • Buchanan has scored at least five points in six straight games. Over his first 13 games, he reached five points just once.
  • Over his last six games, the reserve guard is averaging 7.0 points and is shooting 50.0% from the floor.

MUNFORD SECOND IN THE ATLANTIC 10 IN SCORING

  • Junior guard Xavier Munford ranks second in the Atlantic 10 in scoring, through games of Feb. 4.
  • The Hillside, N.J. native checks in at 17.4 points per game, which also ranks him 75th nationally.
  • He has registered eight of Rhody's top ten scoring performances this season, including a 33-point effort at Auburn.
  • He is fourth in scoring in Atlantic 10 games only, checking in at 16.9 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).

MARTIN, MATTHEWS INK NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT

  • On Wednesday, Nov. 14, head coach Dan Hurley announced the signing of Hassan Martin and E.C. Matthews.
  • Martin is a 6-7, 190 lb. native of Staten Island, N.Y. and a standout forward for Curtis H.S. and the New Heights AAU program.  
  • His brother Phil played collegiately at UC Riverside and is playing in the NBDL.
  • Martin is ranked 125th on Scout.com's latest player rankings for the class of 2013.
  • Matthews is a 6-4, 180 lb. point guard from Romulus, Mich.  He is one of three Division I signees from Romulus H.S. CBSSports.com ranks him No. 62 in their Top 100, while ESPN.com has him at No. 88.  Matthews spent time this summer at the LeBron James Skills Academy and plays his AAU basketball with The Family.
  • Matthews is ranked 72nd on Scout.com's latest player rankings - the top-rated recruit in the Atlantic 10 and the second-rated non-BCS signee for the class of 2013.
  • Scout.com rates Rhode Island's recruiting class as the eighth-best nationally (non-BCS).

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 5-5 when is registers double-digits in the assist column; 1-9 when it does not.

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 ranked as one of the worst defensive teams in the country.
  • URI ranked 321st out of 339 in scoring defense (75.5 points/game), 324th in FG% defense (47.5%), and 230th in 3-point FG% defense (35.5%).
  • In 2012-13, the Rams are allowing better than 10.0 fewer points per game and have lowered their defensive FG% to 42.1% and their 3-point FG% defense mark to 31.4%.
  • 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 five 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.

TURN AROUND ON TURNOVER COUNT

  • Through their first 20 games, the Rams are averaging just 12.4 turnovers per contest - good for 78th nationally.
  • According to Ken Pomeroy's statistical website, URI's 19.3% turnover percentage (total TO/total possessions) ranks 127th  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.
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