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Rhode Island vs. St. Bonaventure Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
An injury to one of its top players and an Atlantic 10 game against a hot opponent Friday at St. Bonaventure could pose a serious threat to No. 14 Rhode Island's winning streak. A knee injury to senior E.C. Matthews cast a large shadow over the 16th straight victory for the Rams, who will face a Bonnies squad that has won seven straight conference games for the first time.
Matthews, whose return from a wrist injury Dec. 16 coincided with the start of the winning streak, was hurt late in the first half of Tuesday's 85-67 victory over Richmond. "The prognosis is good," coach Dan Hurley told the media of Matthews, who is listed day-to-day. "We don't know what the timetable is. It jolted us because of everything the guy has been through." The Rams went 4-2 in the games Matthews, who has averaged 12.9 points and 3.9 rebounds, missed earlier in the season in addition to falling to Nevada in the game that he hurt his wrist. The Bonnies, led by stars Jaylen Adams and Matt Mobley, have used some hot shooting from 3-point territory to win their last seven games by an average of 13.3 points after opening 3-4 in conference. The two seniors, who are the top scoring duo in the Atlantic 10 at 39 points per game, have combined to hit 60-of-116 from beyond the arc during the win streak.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
ABOUT RHODE ISLAND (21-3, 13-0 Atlantic 10): The Rams have the depth to overcome a short-term absence for Matthews as five players scored in double figures in the victory over Richmond, which was their 21st straight league win. Jared Terrell, who is averaging 17.5 points and has 20 career 20-point games, is the top option, but Andre Berry, Jeff Dowtin, Fatts Russell and Cyril Langevine have proven to be capable scorers. The Rams have put five players in double figures in four games this season and each time it has been a different combination of players.
ABOUT ST. BONAVENTURE (19-6, 9-4): Few players, if any, have been as hot as Adams has been over the past four games as the 6-3 guard from Baltimore has averaged 33.5 points and 6.2 assists while making 60.5 percent of his 3-point attempts. Adams was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for his efforts one week after Mobley, who put up 35 points and 11 rebounds Jan. 31 against George Mason, won the award. "We know the buzz around town and we tell each other we just have to get to work," Mobley, a Worcester, Mass., native, told the media. "We have great chemistry on the court and we know what we are looking for out there."
TIP-INS
1. Matthews finished with two points against Richmond, but they were good enough to move him into a tie for sixth place with Steve Chubin (1962-64) on Rhode Island's all-time scoring list with 1,751 points.
2. The Rams have won three straight and five of six against the Bonnies, including an 87-73 victory Jan. 13 that increased their series lead to 38-28.
3. Mobley, who began his career by scoring 737 points in two seasons at Central Connecticut State, and Adams have a combined 3,558 career points.
PREDICTION: Rhode Island 79, St. Bonaventure 71
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
An injury to one of its top players and an Atlantic 10 game against a hot opponent Friday at St. Bonaventure could pose a serious threat to No. 14 Rhode Island's winning streak. A knee injury to senior E.C. Matthews cast a large shadow over the 16th straight victory for the Rams, who will face a Bonnies squad that has won seven straight conference games for the first time.
Matthews, whose return from a wrist injury Dec. 16 coincided with the start of the winning streak, was hurt late in the first half of Tuesday's 85-67 victory over Richmond. "The prognosis is good," coach Dan Hurley told the media of Matthews, who is listed day-to-day. "We don't know what the timetable is. It jolted us because of everything the guy has been through." The Rams went 4-2 in the games Matthews, who has averaged 12.9 points and 3.9 rebounds, missed earlier in the season in addition to falling to Nevada in the game that he hurt his wrist. The Bonnies, led by stars Jaylen Adams and Matt Mobley, have used some hot shooting from 3-point territory to win their last seven games by an average of 13.3 points after opening 3-4 in conference. The two seniors, who are the top scoring duo in the Atlantic 10 at 39 points per game, have combined to hit 60-of-116 from beyond the arc during the win streak.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
ABOUT RHODE ISLAND (21-3, 13-0 Atlantic 10): The Rams have the depth to overcome a short-term absence for Matthews as five players scored in double figures in the victory over Richmond, which was their 21st straight league win. Jared Terrell, who is averaging 17.5 points and has 20 career 20-point games, is the top option, but Andre Berry, Jeff Dowtin, Fatts Russell and Cyril Langevine have proven to be capable scorers. The Rams have put five players in double figures in four games this season and each time it has been a different combination of players.
ABOUT ST. BONAVENTURE (19-6, 9-4): Few players, if any, have been as hot as Adams has been over the past four games as the 6-3 guard from Baltimore has averaged 33.5 points and 6.2 assists while making 60.5 percent of his 3-point attempts. Adams was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for his efforts one week after Mobley, who put up 35 points and 11 rebounds Jan. 31 against George Mason, won the award. "We know the buzz around town and we tell each other we just have to get to work," Mobley, a Worcester, Mass., native, told the media. "We have great chemistry on the court and we know what we are looking for out there."
TIP-INS
1. Matthews finished with two points against Richmond, but they were good enough to move him into a tie for sixth place with Steve Chubin (1962-64) on Rhode Island's all-time scoring list with 1,751 points.
2. The Rams have won three straight and five of six against the Bonnies, including an 87-73 victory Jan. 13 that increased their series lead to 38-28.
3. Mobley, who began his career by scoring 737 points in two seasons at Central Connecticut State, and Adams have a combined 3,558 career points.
PREDICTION: Rhode Island 79, St. Bonaventure 71
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