GAME NOTES: The Rhode Island Rams are set for their final non-conference game as they play host to the Brown Bears on New Year's Eve at the Ryan Center.

Brown has been a streaky team to this point. The Bears suffered through a five-game skid earlier in the season but have since rebounded to win four straight and six of their last seven games entering this contest. Most recently, they claimed a 79-76 victory over Sacred Heart on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Rhode Island has gone 3-1 so far in December. The Rams have been idle since beating Detroit on Dec. 20, 69-55. They are unbeaten at home in five tries this season.

This head-to-head series is URI's longest standing rivalry, as this marks the 156th meeting between these teams. The Rams hold a 102-53 series lead and has won 15 of the last 16 meetings.

The Bears had not experienced much luck in close games prior to Sunday's narrow victory over Sacred Heart. Leland King came up big, posting 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and two steals. Rafael Maia, Steven Spieth and Tavon Blackmon each scored 13 points in the win. Turnovers continue to be an issue, however. The Bears committed 18 against Sacred Heart, just above their season's average of 17.3 turnovers per game, which ranks near the bottom of the nation. King leads the team in scoring with 15.1 ppg, while Cedric Kuakumensah (11.8 ppg) and Spieth (10.8 ppg) rounds out the Bears players who are averaging double figures.

Brown can ill-afford to waste offensive possessions against a Rhode Island squad that ranks 17th nationally in scoring defense, yielding just 56.6 points per game. URI commits only 13.6 turnovers per tilt (+2.0) and is +14.0 in scoring margin and +5.3 on the boards. E.C. Matthews is averaging a team-best 17.7 ppg in his sophomore campaign, while Hassan Martin is contributing 11.0 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds per contest. The Rams dialed up that defensive pressure in the second half against Detroit, limiting the Titans to only 19 points (6-of-21 FG) after halftime. Matthews led all scorers with 23 points in the win.

URI has dominated the series, and that is unlikely to change in this matchup, given the Bears' propensity for turnovers.