St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Hassan Martin tallied 15 points, eight rebounds and four blocks as the Rhode Island Rams defeated the Saint Louis Billikens, 65-53, in Atlantic 10 Conference play on Saturday at Chaifetz Arena.

The Rams (9-3, 1-0 A-10) also got double-digit scoring efforts out of Gilvydas Biruta (14 points), E.C. Matthews (12 points) and Biggie Minnis (10 points) in the victory.

Milik Yarbrough netted 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Billikens (8-6, 0-1), but fouled out of the game. Ash Yacoubou finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, while reserve Mike Crawford scored 10 points in the loss.

The teams entered halftime in a 27-27 tie. Saint Louis shot an impressive 50 percent from the field in the opening period, but turned the ball over 12 times, which the Rams converted into 16 points. Rhode Island connected on 42.9 percent shooting in the frame.

The Rams knocked down 50 percent of their field goal attempts in the second half, and went 12-of-15 from the free throw line. Defensively, the Rams limited Saint Louis to a 14.3 shooting percentage from 3-point range in the final period en route to the win.

Rhode Island forced 21 Saint Louis turnovers and converted them into 30 points. The Rams survived five lead changes, and led by as many as 14 points late in the second half.