When: 7 p.m. Wednesday.
TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network/95.7 and 1290 WHIO.
Series: Dayton leads 25-18. Two seasons ago, Dayton won 67-56 on Jan. 30 at UD Arena and then lost 91-89 in double overtime on Feb. 16 at the Ryan Center. The Flyers then beat Rhode Island 84-72 in the second round of the A-10 tournament. Dayton won the first matchup last season 53-51 on Jan. 28 at UD Arena and then beat the Rams 63-57 at the Ryan Center on Feb. 14
Coaches: Anthony Grant is 115-59 in his sixth season at Dayton. Archie Miller is 6-13 in his first season at Rhode Island. Miller has a career record of 212-134. He was 139-63 in six seasons at Dayton and 67-58 in four seasons at Indiana.
Last game: On Saturday, Dayton lost 76-69 at George Washington, and Rhode Island lost 79-72 at home to George Mason.
KenPom.com odds: Dayton has an 74 percent chance of winning. The website predicts a 67-59 score. Dayton ranks 61st. Rhode Island ranks 218th.
NET rankings: Dayton fell from No. 62 to No. 69 after losing to George Washington. Rhode Island is No. 239.
Probable Dayton starters
Name, Ht., Class, Pos., Points per game
DaRon Holmes II, 6-10, So., F, 18.4
Toumani Camara, 6-8, Jr., G, 12.8
Mustapha Amzil, 6-9, R-So., F, 10.5
R.J. Blakney, 6-6, R-So., G/F, 7.8
Mike Sharavjamts, 6-8, Fr., G/F, 6.4
Probable Rhode Island starters
Ishmael Leggett, 6-3, So., G, 15.8
Brayon Freeman, 6-2, So., G, 14.3
Jalen Carey, 6-3, R-Jr., G, 8.9
Malik Martin, 6-6, So., G, 7.8
Alex Tchikou, 6-11, R-So., C, 3.4
About Dayton: Holmes has made 11 of 28 field goals (39.3%) in the last three games after making 30 of 39 (76.9%) in the previous three game stretch. He’s shooting 59.6% from 2-point range on the season. ... Dayton shot 92.9% (13 of 14) at the free-throw line against George Washington. It’s the first time Dayton has shot more than 10 free throws and made at least 90% since it made 17 of 18 (94.4%) on Jan. 5, 2020, in an 80-67 victory at Saint Joseph’s.
About Rhode Island: Freeman played last season as a freshman at George Washington and averaged 10.3 points. ... Tchikou played in three games last season at Alabama. ... Miller’s coaching staff includes Ben Sander, who was a graduate assistant manager on Miller’s staff at Dayton from 2015-17. Sander spent the last five seasons at Indiana.
Looking ahead: Dayton plays Richmond (11-9, 4-3) at 4 p.m. Saturday at UD Arena.
Credit: David Jablonski
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