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Jimmy Baron helps lead Rhode Island past Eastern Michigan

Dec 29, 2007 - 3:54 AM CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Ticker) -- Jimmy Baron helped Rhode Island keep the good times rolling.

Baron scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half as No. 25 Rhode Island posted a 92-75 victory over Eastern Washington in the Islander Invitational on Friday.

Will Daniels also scored 18 points and Keith Cothran and Kahiem Seawright each had 16 for the Rams (12-1), who are off the program's best start since the 1991-92 squad also began 12-1.

"This was our first game as a ranked team, so it was important that we win it," Daniels said.

Rhode Island next will face Georgia Southern, a 78-69 winner over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, in Saturday's final.

The Rams, who are in the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll for the first time in nine years, watched as Baron shot 6-of-9 in the first half, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, to help build a 51-41 lead at the half.

"I think we started to wear them down eventually," Rhode Island coach Jim Baron said.

Daniels, who connected on 6-of-9 shots overall, also had 13 at the break.

In the second half, Jimmy Baron, who is the son of the coach, drilled another shot from the arc with 7:36 left to give the Rams a 78-63 advantage. A dunk by Jason Francis a minute later pushed the cushion to 82-63 - the largest lead for Rhode Island.

"We started to run, which is what we do best, and then we were sharing the ball," coach Baron said. "Anytime you can get 20 assists, then you know you're doing a good job of moving the ball around."

The Rams shot 58 percent (34-of-59) compared to 45 percent (24-of-53) for the Eagles.

Zane Gay scored 12 points for Eastern Washington (4-6), which has dropped two straight and four of five.

"When you play a high-potent team like that you have to keep scoring," Eastern Washington coach Charles Ramsey said. "Rhode Island is a very good basketball team."