Four nationally televised contests make up the weekend schedule. One win divides six teams at the top of the Atlantic 10 standings with one month remaining before everyone heads to Pittsburgh for the conference championship. Here’s the rundown:
By PAUL GOTHAM
Rhode Island (14-7/6-3) at Davidson (12-8/5-4) 7 pm Friday ESPN2
One of two A-10 teams with a three-game winning streak, Davidson looks to climb the standings. Peyton Aldridge has averaged nearly 30 points during the Wildcats last two wins. Hassan Martin poured in 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting, and URI outscored George Washington 13-1 Tuesday to win its fourth in five games. The Rams have held their last four opponents to 70 points or less. Davidson is fourth in the A-10 scoring 75.5 per game.
Duquesne (9-14/2-8) at Dayton (16-5/7-2) 12:30 pm Saturday NBC Sports Network
Xeyrius Williams scored a career-high 18 points when Dayton won on the road in Pittsburgh last month. The Flyers used a 9-1 run midway through the second half to turn a six-point game into a 76-57 win over Duquesne. UD has held opponents under 70 points in four most recent wins. The Flyers top the conference and are 13th in the nation with an adjusted defensive efficiency (estimated number of points allowed over 100 possessions) of 92.8 per KenPom. Charles Cooke III scores 17.2 and grabs 5.1 rebounds per game. Freshman Mike Lewis II paces the Dukes netting 13.2 per game.
Richmond (13-9/7-3) at George Washington (12-10/4-5) 2:30 pm Saturday NBC Sports Network
Reigning National Player of the Week T.J. Cline and the Richmond Spiders look to rebound from a seven-point setback to cross-town rival VCU and keep pace at the top of the standings. George Washington saw its three-game win streak snapped at Rhode Island. Tyler Cavanaugh tops the Colonials with 16.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
VCU (17-5/7-2) at St. Bonaventure (14-7/6-3) 4 pm Saturday CBS Sports Network
Last time VCU visited Olean, Shaka Smart roamed the sidelines, and Marcus Posley scored at the buzzer to send the then No. 18 Rams home with a loss. Will Wade now skippers the Rams which have won three in a row. Justin Tillman is averaging 17 points and nine rebounds in those three triumphs. St. Bonaventure’s Jaylen Adams leads the A-10 and is tied for 12th in the nation with 6.2 assists per game. Adams scores 21.5 per contest.
Fordham (9-13/3-6) at Saint Joseph’s (10-11/3-6) 6 pm Saturday American Sports Network
Two clubs carrying losing skids meet at Hagan Arena. Antwoine Anderson scores 11.3 and hands out three assists per game for Fordham. Lamarr Kimble hands out 4.1 assists while scoring 14.8 for Saint Joseph’s
La Salle (12-8/5-4) at George Mason (14-8/4-5) 7 pm Saturday MASN
B.J. Johnson leads three La Salle Explorers in double figures with 17.8 per game. Johnson corrals 6.3 rebounds. George Mason’s Marquise leads the A-10 with 10.5 rebounds per game.
North Carolina A&T (1-21/0-9 MEAC) at Saint Louis (7-15/3-7) 8 pm Saturday
Mike Crawford netted nine of 22 points in overtime including the game winner at the buzzer as Saint Louis won for the second time in three games. Davell Roby averages 10.9 points and 3.3 assists for the Billikens. The Aggies have lost 21 straight.
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