THE BASICS
Rhode Island (9-4, 0-0 A-10) vs. Loyola Chicago (4-9, 0-0 A-10)
Tip-Off: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 12:00 p.m.
Coverage: Watch: ESPN+ | Listen: Varsity Network | Live Stats | Game Notes

RHODE ISLAND VS. LOYOLA CHICAGO - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and Loyola Chicago will be meeting for the fourth time on Wednesday.  
• The visiting Ramblers lead the series 2-1, including an 81-77 victory in Chicago last season.
• This is the second visit to the Ryan Center for Loyola Chicago. Rhody defeated the Ramblers 79-77 in the first visit on March 1, 2023.
• In that game, Ishmael Leggett made two free throws with 2.2 seconds to go, lifting URI to the win.
• It is the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams.
• Loyola Chicago enters the week averaging 3.4 steals per game, the lowest per game average of the 361 Division I programs ranked in the category. 
• For perspective, Rhode Island's Tyler Cochran is averaging 3.08 steals per game.
• However, Miles Rubin is one of the nation's top shot blockers. The Loyola big man leads the Atlantic 10 and is 12th in the country with 31 blocks (2.38 per game). 

RHODE ISLAND IN ATLANTIC 10 OPENERS

• Rhode Island is 19-24 all time in Atlantic 10 openers.
• Dating back to the 2019-20 season, Rhode Island is 1-6 in its league openers.
• The lone win during the span was a 78-74 win over Saint Joseph's in 2023-24.
• The Rams started 3-1 in league play that season.
• Rhody is looking to snap a string of five seasons finishing below .500 in A-10 play.
• Last year, the Rams were 7-11 in conference play, the team's most wins since going 13-5 in 2019-20.

JOHNSON LEADS EXPLOSIVE BENCH EFFORT IN NON-LEAGUE FINALE

• Point guard RJ Johnson scored a season-high 19 points and matched his season best with six assists in Rhode Island's 85-77 win over Northeastern on Dec. 22.
• His play highlighted a bench effort that produced a season-best 57 points for the Rams.
• In addition to Johnson, Alex Crawford (12 points, 9 rebounds), Damone King (12 points) and Jalen Harper (10 points, 5 rebounds) all scored in double figures off the bench in the game.
• In the first 12 games of the season, Rhody's bench averaged 20.75 points per game. 
• The Northeastern game boosted the average to 23.54 points per game.
• It was the first career double-digit scoring game for both King and Harper.
• Harper had not scored in any of his first six career appearances.

COREY IS USED TO WINNING 

• The teams that point guard Myles Corey has played for in his collegiate career have a combined record of 104-52, good for a 66.7 winning percentage.
• Corey was a two-time NAIA All-America Honorable Mention while at Jessup, where he played in the NAIA National Championship tournament twice while leading the team to a 74-37 mark over four seasons.
• Last year, he helped South Alabama go 21-11.
• This season, Rhode Island is off to a 9-4 mark.
• The South Alabama transfer is averaging 10.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
• Corey is shooting a robust .746 from inside the perimeter (41-of-55) and is 30-for-38 (.789) at the free throw line.