THE BASICS
Bryant (1-0) at Rhode Island (1-0)
Tip-Off: Friday, Nov. 12, 6:04 p.m. EST
Coverage: Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes

RHODE ISLAND VS. BRYANT - SERIES NOTES

• Friday night's game is just the fifth time Rhode Island and Bryant have met, with URI winning each of the contests so far.
• The last game in the series came in 2018, when the Rams won, 97-63. It was the coaching debut for both Rhody head coach David Cox and Bryant head coach Jared Grasso.
• All four of the previous meetings were played in Kingston, but this is just Bryant's second visit to the Ryan Center. The teams met for three straight seasons from 1984-86 in Keaney Gymnasium,
• The visiting Bulldogs were 15-7 overall last season and reached the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational after playing in the finals of the Northeast Conference Championship for the first time in program history.
• This is the first of three games Rhode Island has scheduled against in-state rivals. In addition to playing Bryant, URI plays at Providence on Dec. 4 and hosts Brown on Dec 22. Rhody is the only school that is playing each of the other three Division I programs in the state.

RHODY WOMEN HOST MERRIMACK AS PART OF DOUBLEHEADER

• Following the completion of the URI-Bryant contest, the Rhode Island women's team plays its home opener against Merrimack Friday night.
• Fans with a ticket to the men's game may stay for both games and do not need to pay a separate admission.
• The URI women's team was picked second in the Atlantic 10's preseason poll and won its season opener at Dartmouth, 83-37.

FRIDAY MARKS THE START OF THE SUNSHINE SLAM

• Friday's contest is officially the start of the Sunshine Slam for both schools.
• The eight-team event features URI, Boston College, Utah, Tulsa, Air Force, Bethune-Cookman, Bryant, Holy Cross.
• After Friday's game, Rhode Island and Bryant will head down to Daytona Beach, Fla. for two rounds of bracket-style tournament play on Nov. 20-21 in the Ocean Center.
• The Rams will face Tulsa on Nov. 20 and then either Boston College or Utah, depeding on the game results.
• Bryant squares off against Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 20, then will play either Air Force or Holy Cross, pending results.
• The Sunshine Slam is produced by the Gazelle Group of Princeton, N.J.
• A sports marketing firm specializing in event production and management, client representation and sponsorship consulting, the Gazelle Group produces numerous nationally-recognized events, such as the Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project, the Legends Classic presented by Old Trapper, the Gotham Classic, the Holiday Face-Off, and the College Basketball Invitational.
• Wednesday's home game against Boston College is not part of the Sunshine Slam, though both teams are in the event.

NOVEMBER A BUSY TIME FOR THE RAMS

• With one game already under its belt, Rhode Island is set to play six games over the next 15 days.
• The stretch begins with a pair of home games, as Rhody hosts Bryant Friday before Boston College comes to the Ryan Center next Wednesday night.
• From there, it is a three-game swing to Florida. URI plays two games in the Sunshine Slam on Nov. 20-21 before traveling to Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 23.
• The month wraps up on Saturday, Nov. 27 with a home game against Georgia State.

BLOCK PARTY GETS STARTED EARLY FOR DEFENSE

• In the season opener against Boston University, Rhode Island had 10 blocked shots, led by three from forward Makhi Mitchell.
• Six different players got in on the act. Center Makhel Mitchell and guard Ishmael El-Amin each had two blocks, while guards Jalen Carey, Malik Martin and Sebastian Thomas all contributed one.
• It was the most blocks in a single game for Rhode Island since Feb. 16, 2019, when URI had 15 against Fordham.