GAME NOTES: Two of the premier teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference are set to make history tonight, as the 22nd-ranked Rhode Island Rams take on the 17th- ranked Dayton Flyers. Tonight's matchup marks the first time in A-10 history that two ranked clubs will meet in their respective league opener. The Rams earned their spot in the Top 25 thanks to their best start since the 1946-47 season, at 14-1. Since losing their only game at Boston College (76-72) on November 21st, URI has ripped off nine wins in a row, including a 94-63 triumph over Fairleigh Dickinson in its most recent outing a week ago. The team now turns its focus to A-10 play, where it finished 10-6 a year ago. As for Dayton, it has also suffered just one loss this season, while winning 12 games. The Flyers, who dropped their second game of the season at George Mason, have won 11 straight contests, including an 83-81 double-overtime thriller against Akron a week ago. The victory kept the team perfect at home (9-0), and with a similar result tonight, Dayton would own its longest winning streak since posting 19 triumphs in a row between 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons. The Flyers own an 11-6 edge in the all-time series with URI, although the Rams have won three of the last four meetings.

The Rams have thrived at the offensive end of the court this season, as they are averaging a healthy 83.6 ppg behind 49.5 percent shooting from the field and 37.2 percent from long range. Will Daniels leads this balanced attack with 18.3 ppg and he is also ripping down a solid 7.2 rpg. Jimmy Baron has formed a solid one-two punch with Daniels, as he puts forth 15.7 ppg on the strength of 46.4 percent shooting from three-point range. In the team's last game, Baron sank 6-of-8 three-point attempts and he finished with 22 points in the Rams' lopsided win over FDU. Daniels had 10 points and nine boards for URI, which shot 55.1 percent from the field, including an 8-of-15 effort from behind the arc.

The Flyers are making good on 47.9 percent of their attempts from the floor and 41.8 percent from long distance and that has helped them to average 71.6 ppg. The team though, can also rebound and defend, as it is grabbing 6.3 rpg more than its foes, while holding them to just 61.7 ppg. Brian Roberts is one of the premier players in the conference and he leads Dayton in scoring (19.1 ppg) as well as assists (4.5 apg). Chris Wright is a distant second at 10.9 ppg, but he is the team's top rebounder with an average of 6.3 rpg. In the club's prior contest, Kurt Huelsman, who is averaging just 6.2 ppg for the season, poured in 18 points to lead the Flyers past Akron in double-overtime. Roberts posted 17 points for Dayton, which held a 40-35 edge on the boards. The team also hit on 46.8 percent of its tries from the floor and 7-of-16 from three-point range in the victory.

It may be just the first league game of the season for both teams, but there is no downplaying the importance of this contest. URI has shown it can light up the scoreboard on any night, but Dayton has yet to suffer a defeat at home. The Rams seem to have a few more weapons than the Flyers do and that should help them escape with a big victory tonight.