Rhode Island-St. Bonaventure Preview (Feb 16, 2018)

No. 16 Rhode Island has a school-record 16-game winning streak, but there is cause for concern with the left knee injury suffered by fifth-year senior guard E.C. Matthews on Tuesday in a victory over Richmond.

With 53 seconds left in the first half, Matthews appeared to bang the knee on the court going for a loose ball while tangled up with Richmond's Grant Golden. He did not return to the game and is now listed as day to day with a bruise.

Unable to practice this week, Matthews is questionable Friday when Rhode Island (21-3, 13-0 Atlantic 10) visits a formidable St. Bonaventure (19-6, 9-4) that is on a seven-game winning streak.

"No MRI needed," Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley said of Matthews' knee. "Just picked up a scare and a bruise. He'll be fine. ... I don't think much beyond Friday he'll miss, if (he misses) Friday."

Earlier this season, Matthews missed nearly six weeks with a broken wrist, which he suffered against Nevada. He has started 16 of the 18 games in which he has played, averaging 12.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per game.

"We're better when he's in there, but we're comfortable without our depth," Hurley said. "The games that we played without him in December and November certainly helped."

Matthews scored 20 points in an 87-73 win over St. Bonaventure on Jan. 13. Sophomore guard Jeff Dowtin added 18 points and nine assists, and senior guard Jarvis Garrett came off the bench to score eight of his 10 points in the first half.

St. Bonaventure lost to Davidson after falling to Rhode Island last month, but the Bonnies have not lost since.

Senior backcourt tandem Jaylen Adams and Matt Mobley combined for 56 points in St. Bonaventure's 79-68 win over La Salle. The two were 9 of 17 from 3-point range.

Mobley, who had 30 points and nine rebounds, has 12 games of 20 points or more. Adams posted his fourth straight game of more than 24 points. He is the highest scoring guard in St. Bonaventure history with 1,765 points.

"This is where teams play their best basketball," Adams said of the season winding down. "February's coming, you can feel the end of the season. It's kind of tightening up. That's been the motto all week -- that we've got to play our best basketball now. It's time to turn it up and give it all we got."

Adams and Mobley have accounted for at least 48 points in each of the last four games. They have helped St. Bonaventure climb out of a 2-4 hole in conference play on Jan. 19.

"We just stayed together, didn't panic, put our heads down and worked," Adams told the Olean (N.Y.) Times Herald. "I think if we keep doing that, sky's the limit. We got the formula now. We understand we've got to win it on defense. We're excited for Friday."

Mobley added, "We can't wait. The two hottest teams in the A-10, at home, Friday night, ESPN2. It's about to be a movie."