What It Means:
Rhode Island had one of its worst defensive efforts of the 2013-14 season and suffered an 85-79 loss at Fordham on Saturday night.  

The Rams (11-11; 2-5 A-10) allowed Fordham to score 85 points - third-most by an opponent this season, thanks to 8-of-17 shooting from beyond the arc.

URI led by as many as five points in the first half, after E.C. Matthews found a driving T.J. Buchanan for the layup, making it 33-28.  Fordham would erase that lead, going on a 9-3 push to take a 37-36 advantage into the break.

There were four ties and five lead changes to start the second half, before a Gilvydas Biruta three-point play made it, 47-46, Rhody with 14:48 left.  But that was the last URI lead as Fordham poured it on over the 8:30, going on a 26-15 surge and taking a 10-point lead (72-62).

Rhody would score eight unanswered to get as close as two, but could not get over the hump.  The Kingston Rams have lost their last three trips to Rose Hill Gym.

Inside the Box Score and Beyond:
* E.C. Matthews led five Rhody players in double-figures with 20 points.  The freshman guard was 8-of-15 from the floor and 2-of-6 from the perimeter.  He also added five rebounds, four assists, and block, and three steals.

* Xavier Munford added 16 points - 13 in the second half.  He hit just 3-of-8 from the line and played just 26 minutes - the lowest since Nov. 11 at SMU (25 minutes).

* Jarelle Reischel tied his season-high off the bench for the Rams tonight, with 13 points (4-6 FG; 2-2 3FG; 3-6 FT).  He also added four boards, two assists and two steals in 29 minutes.  It was arguably his best game of the season.

* Hassan Martin narrowly missed his second double-double of the season, tallying 10 points - including his first career 3-pointer - and nine rebounds.  He also swatted five shots, giving him 46 on the season.

* Gilvydas Biruta contributed 14 points and six rebounds.  He struggled with foul trouble and saw just 24 minutes of action.  Rhode Island is 4-8 when Biruta has four or more fouls in a single game and 6-7 and when playing 25 minutes or less.

* Five Rhody players reached double-digits in the same game for the first time since Nov. 11, 2011 at George Mason.

* It marked the first time this season - and just the second time in the Hurley era - that Rhode Island scored more than 70 points and lost.

* The Rams dished out a season-high 18 assists (11 turnovers).  In A-10 play, Rhody has 83 assists and 84 turnovers.

Stat of the Day:
3 - E.C. Matthews notched three steals in the game, giving him a team-high 23.  Eleven of those 23 have come in Atlantic 10 games.

What's Next:
Rhode Island will travel to VCU on Thursday, Feb. 6 in a nationally televised game.

The Kingston Rams and Richmond Rams face off at 7 p.m. on CBS 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 B101 (101.5 FM) to hear Steve McDonald and Don Kaull provide the call.  The pre-game show begins at 6:30 p.m.