RHODE ISLAND VS. FORDHAM – SERIES NOTES Rhode Island and Fordham are meeting for the 76th time overall and second time this season. Rhody holds a 42-33 lead in the all-time series. URI is 21-12 when hosting its fellow Rams. Fordham has won three of the last four meetings, including the first contest this year. On Feb. 2, Fordham pulled out an 80-79 win when Matt Zona scored on a putback of a Japhet Medor missed layup with two seconds to go. Jackie Johnson III had a game-high 25 points for Fordham, while Sebastian Thomas led Rhode Island with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
SENIORS TO BE HONORED PREGAME
Before Saturday’s game, six members of the basketball program will be recognized as part of the team’s Senior Day ceremonies. Point guard Sebastian Thomas; forward David Green; center Javonte Brown; and guards Jaden House and Quentin Diboundje will all be honored. Also being recognized is Josh Paiva, the team’s creative content producer for the last three seasons.
RAMS ENJOYING PROLIFIC SEASON FROM THE ARC
With 220 3-pointers, this year’s team ranks seventh in program history for treys in a season. The Rams tied the single-game program record with 16 3-pointers at Massachusetts on March 1. The mark was initially set against Saint Joseph’s on Jan. 3, 2017. In the UMass game, David Green led the way with eight 3-pointers, one shy of the team record held by Tyson Wheeler (9 at Saint Joseph’s, Jan. 6, 1998). Jamarques Lawrence made four from beyond the arc, while Cam Estevez chipped in with a pair. Sebastian Thomas and Quentin Diboundje each added one 3-point basket. For the season, Lawrence has a team-best 57 3-pointers, while Green is right behind him with 56. Thomas is third with 39, while Estevez has 28. Half of the 3-pointers by Estevez have come since the start of February (14-of-25), including five in his last two games (5-for-10). From November through January, Estevez was 14-for-62 from long range.
Since the start of February, he has raised his 3-point shooting percentage from .226 to .322.
