GAME NOTES: The Fordham Rams will try to avoid losing four straight games for the first time this season, as they host the Rhode Island Rams in Atlantic 10 play at Rose Hill Gym today. Fordham enters the contest well rested, last playing in a 70-55 loss at Saint Joseph's on February 2nd. With the recent slide, Fordham now sits at just 8-11 overall and 2-5 in conference play. As for URI, it to is coming off a loss, dropping a narrow 78-76 decision at Massachusetts on Thursday. The setback brought the team's four-game win streak to a close, as it dipped to a still impressive 19-4 overall and 5-3 in conference action. URI though, has been vulnerable on the road, falling in three of its four league games away from home. In terms of the all-time series, URI owns a 25-23 edge over Fordham and it won two of three meetings a season ago, including a 74-69 triumph in the A-10 Tournament.

URI shot a season-low 33.8 percent from the field and it was unable to overcome that performance in a 78-76 setback at UMass on Thursday. The team nailed 6-of-14 long-range attempts, but it could have done better at the foul line, going a sub par 20-of-31. Will Daniels paced the Rams in defeat with his fourth double-double that consisted of 19 points and 14 rebounds. Parfait Bitee tallied 17 points and doled out eight assists, and Jimmy Baron chipped in with 10 points. For the season, Daniels tops the roster in scoring at 18.1 ppg and he is also collecting 6.9 rpg. Baron is next in line with 15.8 ppg and he is a three-point specialist, making 44.9 percent of his tries. Bitee runs the offense with a team-high 5.1 apg to his credit and he also can score, chipping in 10.8 ppg. As a team, URI has thrived at the offensive end of the court this season, averaging a healthy 81.9 ppg on a solid 47.6 percent shooting from the field.

Fordham has been held to 60 points or fewer in each of its past three games and the team in now averaging just 64.9 ppg for the season. Bryant Dunston and Marcus Stout are tied for the team-lead in scoring at 14.8 ppg, with Stout recording a club-best 25 steals and Dunston pulling down an A-10 leading 9.5 rpg. Brenton Butler is the final player on the team averaging in double digits, with 11.4 ppg. In the squad's prior contest, Fordham shot a lackluster 37.3 percent from the field, including a poor 3-of-21 showing from long distance, as it was blown out by Saint Joseph's. Stout guided the team with 19 points, while Dunston logged 18 points and eight rebounds.

Despite some struggles on the road, URI is still the more talented team and should prevail over a slumping Fordham club today.