Dayton, OH (Sports Network) - Brian Roberts scored 23 points and dished out seven assists and 17th-ranked Dayton held off 22nd-ranked Rhode Island for its 12th straight victory, 92-83, in the conference opener for both teams.

Roberts hit seven of his 11 field-goal attempts, including three three- pointers, and Marcus Johnson added 14 points and five rebounds. Andres Sandoval scored 12 and Kurt Huelsman chipped in 10 for Dayton (13-1, 1-0 Atlantic 10), which shot a sizzling 62 percent from the floor on the night.

Jimmy Baron hit six threes on his way to 26 points and Will Daniels went for 25 and six rebounds, but Rhode Island (14-2, 0-1) couldn't recover from a 13- point halftime deficit and saw a nine-game win streak halted.

Daniels grabbed a rebound and threw home a dunk, then converted a three-point play after taking an outlet pass in transition, to bring URI within 82-78 with 1:31 to go in the game.

Johnson then nearly committed a turnover on the ensuing Dayton possession, but London Warren fell on the loose ball and called a timeout with just five seconds on the shot clock and a minute left in the game. Johnson atoned for his near-blunder by draining a corner three, extending the Flyers lead to 85-78.

Baron hit a contested three to again make it a four-point game with 43 ticks remaining, but Dayton made its free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Charles Little finished with nine points and six rebounds for Dayton, while Parfait Bitee had 15 and five assists for the Rams.

Dayton led 16-11 through the opening five minutes, and closed the half on an 18-9 spurt - capped by Roberts' contested jumper - to take a 54-41 lead into the break.

URI outscored the Flyers 17-10 to open the second half, and was within 64-58 by the 12-minute mark.

Baron's three brought the Rams within three, at 71-68, with just under eight minutes to go. But Little answered with a jumper, and Dayton continued to keep Rhode Island at an arm's length inside three minutes.