THE BASICS
Rhode Island (0-0) vs. Holy Cross (0-0)
Tip-Off: Tuesday, Nov 3. 7:00 p.m.
Coverage: Live Stats | ESPN+ | Game Notes

RHODE ISLAND VS. HOLY CROSS - SERIES NOTES

• Rhode Island and Holy Cross are meeting for the 43rd time, with the visiting Crusaders leading the all-time series, 24-18.
• Rhody has won six straight in the series, including a 91-77 victory on Nov. 8, 2024.
• David Green had 25 points in that game, while Javonte Brown had 18 points and six rebounds. Brown was 8-of-9 shooting from the field.
• Holy Cross was picked to finish eighth in the Patriot League preseason poll.
• Head coach Dave Paulsen is in his fourth season at the helm for Holy Cross. He is familiar with the Atlantic 10, having spent six years as the head coach for George Mason and two seasons as an assistant at Fordham before taking over at Holy Cross.
• Archie Miller is 1-0 in his career against the Crusaders, with the lone game coming in the 2024-25 season.

DENIUSAS WAS OVC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR IN 2025-26 

• UT Martin transfer Matas Deniusas started all 33 games for the Skyhawks. 
• He averaged 12.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while being named the Ohio Valley Conference Rookie of the Year. 
• The Lithuanian big man scored in double digits 24 times while also averaging 1.6 assists per game.
• An 11-time OVC Rookie of the Week, Deniusas hails from Vilnius, Lithuania, the same hometown as fellow newcomer Nedas Raupelis. 
• Deniusas took visits with Richmond and Minnesota after he entered the portal, and he also heard from Utah.

FONTENET OFFERS HIGH CEILING FROM THE WING

• Wing Jason Fontenet II came to Rhode Island from UC Santa Barbara, where he averaged 9.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists during the 2024-25 season.
• That year, he led the Gauchos to a 21-13 record. 
• His performance led to Fontenet being named to the league's 2025-26 preseason all-conference team, but a leg injury ended his season after just five games. 
• Fully recovered now, Fontenet chose Rhode Island after also hearing from the likes of Nevada, St. Mary's and Utah State when he entered the portal.
• Fontenet II showed the versatility in Rhode Island's exhibition game at Massachusetts on Oct. 11.
• He had 18 points, six rebounds and three assists.
• In the second half, he had a personal 8-0 run, during which he hit a hoop-and-harm three-point play, had a fastbreak dunk and then hit a 3-pointer, all in a span of 46 seconds.