Rhode Island @ Providence

Who will WIN this matchup?

Rhode Island Rams (3-2)

@ Providence Friars (5-2)

Current odds:

Rhode Island Rams: (+250)

Providence Friars: (-300)

• The line for this game is Providence by 7 points.

• Providence seeks a measure of revenge in its Ocean State rivalry with visiting Rhode Island when the teams meet Saturday for the 131st time – depending on who is keeping count. The Friars had taken seven straight meetings between the in-state foes before a 75-68 loss on the Rams’ home floor last season in another intense matchup between two schools separated by about 30 miles. The Friars will be aiming for their third straight win following victories over Iona and Fairleigh Dickinson to begin a stretch in which they will play six of seven games at home.

• The Rams have swapped wins and losses through their first five games, defeating another in-state rival in Brown by a 71-51 margin in their most recent outing Wednesday night. “That’s the type of effort Rhody fans have been used to,” coach David Cox told reporters after his team forced 19 turnovers and held the Bears to 29.8 percent shooting. “And that’s the type of effort we need to have every day, every game.”

• Junior forward Cyril Langevine was a non-factor against the Friars last season with eight scoreless minutes, but he storms into this matchup on the strength of four consecutive double-doubles, including 19 points and a season-high 17 rebounds against Brown. “Every day I’m just trying to go out there and get better,” he told the Providence Journal. “It starts with practice first. When you practice and you go hard it translates into the game. That’s what happened.” Junior guard Jeff Dowtin was limited to 11 points on 2-of-10 shooting in the win over the Bears but still leads the Rams in scoring (17.2) and assists (4.2).

•  Junior Alpha Diallo had 20 points and his second straight nine-rebound effort in the win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday, and the team’s leading scorer (18.7) is 16-of-30 from the floor during the two-game winning streak. Freshman guard A.J. Reeves is the only other player averaging in double digits in the scoring column (13.6) but he’s been held to seven points or fewer in three of the last five games. Those two are a solid 29-for-65 combined from 3-point range but their teammates are shooting just 26.4 percent from long distance.

• Diallo had 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting in the loss to the Rams last season. Rhode Island was led by G Fatts Russell with 20.

• The Rams are last in the nation in 3-point shooting at 22.3 percent.

• Providence claims a 73-55 series advantage, while Rhode Island has it at 73-57.