By PAUL GOTHAM
Three Atlantic 10 teams rank top 35 in the RPI with the University of Dayton Flyers leading the way at No. 10 followed by George Washington (24) and Davidson (35). Dayton and George Washington both received votes in the this past week’s AP and USA Today polls while Saint Joseph’s grabbed AP votes. An eighteen game conference slate tarts this weekend with seven nationally-televised games. Here’s the rundown.
Saint Joseph’s (10-2) at Richmond (8-4) 12:30 p.m. NBCSN
Two teams playing with a chip on their collective shoulders. Pegged sixth in the conference pre-season poll, the Spiders won at Wake Forest and downed then No. 14 California earlier in the season. Richmond won four straight before falling at Texas Tech on Tuesday. Terry Allen paces UR scoring 19.9 and grabbing 8.3 rebounds per game. The Spiders lead the A-10 and are 24th in the nation hitting 49 percent from the floor. Isaiah Miles (17 ppg) and DeAndre’ Bembry (15 ppg) lead a Saint Joseph’s team which has won six straight. The Hawks won at Temple and defeated Virginia Tech on a neutral court during the non-conference portion of the schedule. The Hawks commit 10.4 turnovers per game – 24th in the country.
Dayton (10-2) at Duquesne (10-3) 2:30 p.m. NBCSN
Dayton is coming off an overtime victory against Arkansas – the Flyers’ third win (Alabama and Vanderbilt) this season when playing the SEC. Dyshawn Pierre returned to the lineup after suspension and contributed 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. Charles Cooke paces UD with 14.7 points per game. The Flyers are undefeated (8-0 when Cooke scores in double figures. Duquesne is off to its best start since 1979-80. Derrick Colter scores 17.8 per game while Micah Mason adds 16.1. The Dukes are 6-0 when Mason hands out five assists or more.
Davidson (8-3) at St. Bonaventure (8-3) 8:00 ASN
Davidson lead the conference and is 10th in land committing just 9.7 turnovers per game. St. Bonaventure forces 15.1 miscues (36th in the nation). Jack Gibbs (24.6 ppg/4 apg) paces a Davidson club which averages 75.7 possessions per game to score 82 points. SBU’s Jaylen Adams heads the A-10 handing 5.2 assists per game.
Sunday
Fordham (9-2) at George Washington (11-2) 7 p.m. NBCSN
Tyler Cavanaugh (15.7 ppg/7.1 rpg) leads a GW club which has won five of six including three victories over schools from Power 5 conferences during that stretch (Seton Hall, Penn State and Rutgers). The Colonials are 11th in the country hitting 77.1 percent (232-of-301) from the free throw line. Fordham forces 18.3 turnovers per game – good for second in the country. Mandell Thomas scores 16.2 a game for the Rams.
OTHER GAMES
Saturday
Saint Louis (5-7) at Rhode Island 8-5) 4:30 p.m. NBCSN
George Mason (6-7) at VCU (8-5) 5:00 p.m. CBS Sports Network
Sunday
UMass (7-5) at La Salle (4-6) 5 p.m. NBCSN
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