By Paul Gotham
The second full week of conference play comes to a close with the possibility of separation. Or is it a log jam? Here are the weekend’s top games in A-10 men’s basketball.
Saint Louis (9-8/1-3) at Dayton (14-2/4-0) 12:30 pm NBC Sports
SLU goes on the road to face one of the hottest teams in the country. The Bills snapped a four-game skid last time out. Winners of seven straight, UD is undefeated at home 9-0. Both teams play in the low 60’s. Milik Yarbrough has tallied double digits in each of his last six games. UD runs offense through Dyshawn Pierre.
#17/17 VCU (14-3/4-0) at Duquesne (6-9/1-3) 2 pm CBS Sports
VCU’s second road test in as many games. The Rams trailed URI by seven at half before rallying behind Treveon Graham, Tuesday night. The Dukes nearly caught URI at home last week. Derrick Colter went a combined 6-for-10 from 3-point range against URI and Saint Joseph’s. Duquesne will need at least that many to pull off this upset.
Rhode Island (11-4/3-1) at UMass (9-8/2-2) 2:30 pm NBC Sports
Upstart URI looks to rebound after letting that one against VCU slip away. URI’s stingy defense holds teams to 57.9 points per game (22nd in the nation). UMass turns over the ball 19.8 percent of the time (240th). This will need to improve for the Minutemen to avoid falling two games behind their New England rival in the standings. E.C. Matthews scores 17.7 a game for the Rams. Cady Lalanne (12.6 ppg/ 9.2 rpg) leads UMass.
George Mason (6-10/1-3) at George Washington (13-4/3-1) 4:30 pm NBC Sports
The Revolutionary Rivalry adds its next chapter. George Washington went to double overtime at home to defeat Richmond on Thursday. Mason looks to snap a three-game slide. After being shut out versus La Salle, GW’s Kevin Larsen responded with a double-double (22 pts/11 rebounds) against Richmond. George Mason’s Shevon Thompson has grabbed double-digit boards in seven of his last nine games.
Sunday
Saint Joseph’s (7-8/1-3) at St. Bonaventure (9-6/2-2) 2:30 pm NBC Sports
The reigning conference champs go on the road to try and keep pace in the standings. SJU is 0-2 on the A-10. The Reilly Center is rarely forgiving. Are students back in session? Chris Wilson netted a career-high 23 last time out for the Hawks. Bona big man Youssou Ndoye tallied his own career-high with 28 in SBU’s win over George Mason, on Wednesday.
Also on the docket:
Fordham (5-10/0-4) at La Salle (9-8/1-3)
Davidson (12-3/3-1) at Richmond (9-8/2-2)
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