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Baron's sharpshooting leads URI to ninth straight win

Jan 3, 2008 - 6:22 AM PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (Ticker) -- Jimmy Baron has his sights set on the Atlantic 10.

Baron scored 16 of his 22 points in the first half as No. 22 Rhode Island rolled to a 94-63 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday.

Lamonte Ulmer had 13 points and Kahiem Seawright added 12 for the Rams (14-1), who captured their ninth straight win.

Rhode Island, which shot 55 percent (38-of-69), continued its best start since the 1946-47 squad began 15-1.

The Rams will attempt to match that mark when they open their A-10 Conference schedule at No. 23 Dayton next Wednesday. They have won their last two appearances at Dayton Arena, and three of the last four meetings overall.

"I've got a vote in the ESPN top-25 poll. I voted them 18th this past week," Fairleigh Dickinson coach Tom Green told the Providence Journal. "Believe me, I'm going to vote them a lot higher this week."

Baron - the son of Rhode Island coach Jim Baron - appears ready for that big matchup, finishing 7-of-10 from the field with a season high-tying six 3-pointers.

The junior guard had his touch right from the start, sinking three of his first five attempts from the arc to help the Rams take a 33-23 lead with 3:44 left in the first half.

Rhode Island went on to extend that lead to 44-31 at the half thanks in part to another basket from the arc by Baron, and cruised after the break despite 26 second-half points by Manny Ubilla.

Ubilla finished with a career-high 39 points on 12-of-22 shooting with eight 3-pointers for Fairleigh Dickinson (4-7), setting a Ryan Center record for most points scored.

"We've got a lot of work to do," Rams coach Jim Baron said to the Journal. "Let me tell you, as a coach when you let a guy come into your building and score 39, you've got plenty to work on."

Seawright also grabbed nine rebounds and Will Daniels added 10 points and nine boards for the Rams, who finished with a 41-30 advantage on the glass.

Sean Baptiste chipped in eight points for the Knights, who shot just 37 percent (20-of-54) in falling to 0-3 against teams in the A-10 this season.