THE BASICS
Rhode Island (6-6, 3-2 A-10) at Massachusetts (3-3, 2-1 A-10)
Tip-Off: Wednesday, Jan. 13, 7:00 p.m. EST | Coverage: Live Stats | Audio | NESN / ESPN+ | Game Notes

RHODE ISLAND VS. MASSACHUSETTS - SERIES NOTES

• Wednesday's game at Massachusetts is the 157th meeting between the schools, and the first of two games scheduled  this season.
• The only school Rhode Island has played more often than UMass is Brown (163 games).
• The game was originally slated for Feb. 27, but it was moved last week by the Atlantic 10 in effort to leave dates for both teams open later in the year for schedule fleibility purposes.
• Rhode Island is looking for its fourth victory in five games, including an 83-68 win at VCU Saturday.
• Massachusetts defeated La Salle, 83-67, on Saturday, snapping a two-game skid that included a double-overtime loss to George Mason on Dec. 30.
• UMass leads the all-time series, 89-67, but Rhode Island has won three in a row and seven of the last eight between the schools.
• Last season, the teams played twice, URI winning 73-67 at the Ryan Center on Feb. 4 and then 64-63 at the Mulllins Center in the season finale on March 7.
• Fatts Russell made a pair of free throws with 2.2 seconds on the clock to lift Rhode Island to the win in the last game against Massachusetts. He drew a foul on Tre Mitchell to get himself to the line.
• The game features two of the strongest offensive teams in the Atlantic 10. In conference play, Massachusetts averages a league-best 86.7 points per game, while URI is third in A-10 play with 72.4 points per game.
• Both teams also are  strong on the glass. Rhode Island leads the league with a +9.2 rebounding margin in A-10 play, while Massachusetts is fourth with a +3.3 margin.

• Over its last four games, Rhode Island is a combined plus-52 in rebounding.
• The Rams have had a double-digit edge in rebounds in each of the four games. Rhody was plus-15 at VCU (Jan. 9), plus-10 at Richmond (Jan. 6), plus-14 against Saint Joseph's (Jan. 3) and plus-13 against St. Bonaventure (Dec. 30).
• Richmond (Dec. 18) is the only A-10 school to outrebound the Rams in a game this season (42-36).
• There are six different players averaging at least 4.4 rebounds per game in league play for Rhode Island. Redshirt junior Antwan Walker (7.0) and junior Jermaine Harris (5.6) lead the team, followed closely by senior Fatts Russell (5.2) and center Makhel Mitchell (5.0). Guards Malik Martin and Jalen Carey both are averaging 4.4 in league play.
• In seven non-conference games, Rhode Island was outrebounded 260-241, resulting in a -2.7 per game margin.

BETRAND IMPRESSIVE  IN FIRST START FOR RAMS

• Junior Allen Betrand responded well to his first start with Rhode Island, scoring 13 points in 30 minutes at VCU Saturday.
• Both figures represented season highs for the Towson transfer.
• In five games since he became eligible to play, Betrand has averaged 6.8 points per game while shooting .429 (12-for-28) from the field.
• He gives the Rams a solid outside shooting presence, hitting 7-of-17 (.412) from the perimeter thus far.
• After starting the season 2-for-8 from long range, Betrand is 5-for-9 on 3-point attempts over his last three games.