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Rhode Island hopes for extended stay in Top 25

Dec 28, 2007 - 1:42 PM Eastern Michigan (4-5) at No. 25 Rhode Island (11-1) 6:00 pm EST

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Ticker) - In the rankings for the first time since the 1998-99 season, No. 25 Rhode Island looks to stay there as they play in the first game of the Islander Invitational vs. Eastern Michigan on Friday.

The Rams, winners of six straight, headline a four-team field that also consists of Georgia Southern and the host school, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Rhode Island last played on Saturday, when it soundly defeated Hofstra, 88-69. Senior forward Will Daniels, who last week was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week along with Temple's Dionte Christmas, had 22 points for the Rams, who are off to their best start since the 1991-92 season.

Eastern Michigan is coming off a heartbreaking 58-55 loss to the Temple Owls on Saturday. The Owls' Mark Tyndale hit an off-balance 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining to break a 55-55 tie and Eagles' subsequent long inbounds pass was intercepted.

Carlos Medlock had 19 points and Jesse Bunkley added 15 in the loss for Eastern Michigan, which has played just two games this month.