Kingston, RI (My Sportsbook) - The 15th-ranked Xavier Musketeers are widely considered to be the best team in the Atlantic 10 Conference, and they will attempt to avoid an upset at the hands of the Rhode Island Rams this evening.

Xavier is currently riding a four-game win streak that has enabled the team to move to 13-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play. The only two losses suffered by the club this season came against Duke and Butler, a pair of nationally- ranked opponents. The Musketeers are fresh off an 86-60 thrashing of Fordham on Sunday, and they certainly expect a stiffer challenge this evening from Rhode Island, which owns an impressive 11-5 overall record.

The Rams carried a three-game winning streak into Saturday's A-10 opener against Saint Joseph, but the result was a 92-86 triple-overtime loss to the Hawks on the road. Fortunately, URI returns home in hopes of improving its 6-0 record at the Ryan Center.

Xavier owns a 14-3 series lead over Rhode Island, which includes an 81-77 victory over the Rams at the Ryan Center last season.

Xavier is scoring 73.0 ppg this season while limiting opponents to 62.3 ppg on 36.7 percent shooting from the field. Derrick Brown is netting 14.1 ppg, and B.J. Raymond provides 12.1 ppg for the Musketeers. As for C.J. Anderson, he rounds out a trio of double-digit scorers with 10.7 ppg. A strength of this Xavier team is rebounding, as the club is pulling down nearly eight caroms per game more than the opposition. Also, the Musketeers have attempted 151 more free throws than their foes through 15 outings. In the 26-point victory over Fordham on Sunday, Xavier shot 53.8 percent from the field, including a 9- of-17 showing from three-point range. A 45-29 rebounding advantage also helped the cause. All five starters reached double figures in scoring for the Musketeers, and Raymond was tops with 18 points.

Rhode Island is a terrific offensive team, as it is generating 81.9 ppg on 49.2 percent shooting from the floor. The Rams are limiting opponents to 73.4 ppg while outrebounding foes by five boards per contest. Jimmy Baron is the leading scorer for URI, as he is posting 17.3 ppg on the strength of his 44.6 percent shooting from three-point range. Keith Cothran checks in with 14.6 ppg, and Kahiem Seawright provides 14.3 ppg to go along with 6.5 rpg. In the marathon loss to Saint Joseph's, Baron scored 19 points. Seawright posted 17 points, while Cothran added 14 points and six assists. Unfortunately, the Rams connected on only 7-of-22 field goal attempts in the three overtime sessions, and four missed free throws certainly didn't help the cause.