By PAUL GOTHAM
Dayton (7-1) and Saint Joseph’s (6-1) look to keep pace with VCU (7-0) at the top of the Atlantic 10 standings while five four-win teams jockey for position. Five nationally-televised games are on tap. Here’s the A-10 weekend slate:
VCU (15-5/7-0) at Davidson (12-6/4-3) 6 p.m. Friday ESPN2
Ball control meets Havoc Friday night. Davidson leads the A-10 and is sixth in the country committing just 9.4 turnovers a game. Per BBState, the Wildcats turnover rate of 12.5 is tops in the nation. VCU forces 16.9 miscues per contest – No. 1 in the A-10 and No. 5 in the land. Davidson’s Jack Gibbs ranks fifth in the country scoring 24.8 points a game, and the junior guard keeps good company. Melvin Johnson paces the Rams with 18.3 points a game. The senior guard is one of four Rams averaging more than a steal a game. VCU’s JeQuan Lewis has handed out 15 assists with just one turnover in the past two games.
La Salle (5-13/1-6) at Dayton (17-3/7-1) 2 p.m. Saturday NBCSN
La Salle handed Dayton its only conference setback when these two met in the City of Brotherly on January ninth. UD has won five straight since then. The Flyers are coming off a 73-37 drubbing of Saint Louis on Wednesday a game in Steve McElevene swatted six shots. Charles Cooke nets 16.2 a game and knows a thing or two about winning time. Tony Washington grabs 7.6 rebounds for an Explorer squad looking to end a five-game slide.
Saint Joseph’s (17-3/6-1) at Rhode Island (12-8/4-3) 6 p.m. Saturday CBS Sports Network
URI will look to avenge a five-point loss at Saint Joseph’s earlier in the month – a game which the Rams led with less than seven minutes remaining. Rhody’s Dan Hurley has a theory for his team’s late-game struggles. Listen to it here. Saint Joseph’s has won 13 of 14 committing just 10.1 turnovers a game. Isaiah Miles paces the Hawks with 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a game. Hassan Martin‘s 2.4 blocks a game leads the Rams and is tied for 23rd in the country.
Richmond (11-8/3-4) at St. Bonaventure (12-6/4-3) 3 p.m. Sunday ASN
Two of the conference’s top five scoring offenses clash when Richmond’s Spiders travel to Olean. Terry Allen, who has the fourth longest streak in the country reaching double figures in 29 straight game, leads a UR offense scoring 80.2 a game. Bona’s Jaylen Adams is one of two players at the Division I level averaging more than 17 points a game with 4.1 assists and shooting 44 percent or better from behind the arc. The Bonnies net 77.4 a contest.
OTHER GAMES
Fordham (11-8/3-4) at UMass (8-11/2-6) Noon Saturday NBCSN
Duquesne (14-7/4-4) at Saint Louis (8-12/3-5) 6 p.m. Saturday ASN
George Washington (15-5//4-3) at George Mason (7-13/1-6) Noon Sunday NBCSN
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