What It Means:
The Rams dropped their third straight game to start A-10, 72-62, at La Salle on Wednesday night.  

Rhody (9-9; 0-3 A-10) led by three - 18-15 - after a Jarelle Reischel 3-pointer with 7:34 left in the first half.  But La Salle would respond with a 17-2 run over the next five minutes to give them the lead for good.

An E.C. Matthews layup with 10:01 left in regulation cut the Explorers' lead to six - at 51-45 - as the Rams came out of the locker room on a 20-14 offensive push.  That would be as close as they would get the rest of the way.

Inside the Box Score and Beyond:
* Xavier Munford led all scorers with 21 points (8-17 FG; 2-6 3FG; 3-3 FT).  The senior also registered a career-best eight assists (one turnover) in 38 minutes of play, as he split the primary ballhandling duties with T.J. Buchanan.

* Buchanan added nine points and two assists (zero turnovers) in 30 minutes off the bench.  

* Gilvydas Biruta registered his fourth double-double of the year, with 16 points (7-12 FG) and a game-high 11 rebounds.

* Jarelle Reischel saw 20 minutes of action off the bench - his highest minute total since Nov. 30 (at George Mason).  The sophomore forward contributed five points and three rebounds.

* Rhody shot 50.0% (15-30) from the floor in the second half, outscoring La Salle, 36-35, over the final 20:00 of play.

* The Explorers held a 22-8 advantage in points in the paint in the first half.  Rhody countered with a 26-14 edge in paint scoring in the second half.

* URI blocked just three shots on the night - the team's lowest total since Nov. 30 at George Mason.  Hassan Martin tallied two blocks.

Stat of the Day:
9 - Rhody committed just nine turnovers vs. La Salle - the lowest single-game mark of the season.

What's Next:
Rhode Island hosts George Mason on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 12:30 p.m. at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.

It is the second matchup of the year between the Patriots and the Rams and will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network.

This - and every Rhody men's basketball game - can be heard live on the University of Rhode Island Radio Network, powered by Beltone Hearing Aid Centers.  Tune into NewsRadio 920 (920 AM) to hear Steve McDonald and Don Kaull provide the call.  The pre-game show begins at noon.