Kingston, RI (SportsNetwork.com) - Jarvis Garrett recorded a double-double for the Rams with 10 points and 10 assists as No. 3 seed Rhode Island coasted to an 88-75 win over the sixth-seeded Iona Gaels in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.

E.C. Matthews and Jared Terrell netted 18 points apiece for the Rams (23-9), who will face Stanford in the next round of the tournament. Biggie Minnis and T.J. Buchanan provided a spark off the bench for URI with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Earl Watson grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench.

A.J. English tallied a game-high 28 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists for Iona (26-9). David Laury also made an impact for the Gaels as he registered a double-double with 26 points and 17 boards, while Kelvin Amayo scored 10 points.

URI assisted 13 of its 18 makes from the floor and outrebounded the visitors, 27-19, in the opening period en route to a 51-39 halftime lead. The Gaels were limited to 30.3 percent efficiency from the field in the first half.

The Rams outscored Iona, 14-5, at the free-throw line over the final 20 minutes of regulation to protect their lead.

URI finished the game with an 18-7 advantage in second chance points.