SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Interstat) — A surging Saint Joseph’s squad will look to solidify its standing when it visits a struggling Rhode Island team in an Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at the Ryan Center.

The Hawks (18-10, 10-5 A-10) enter on a three-game winning streak, including an 81-63 rout of George Mason on Wednesday. Guard Derek Simpson has been the catalyst, averaging 19.0 points and 6.7 assists during the streak. In the win over the Patriots, Simpson scored 23 points and dished out eight assists, while freshman Jaiden Glover added 21 points.

Saint Joseph’s has won seven of its last nine games, positioning itself favorably for the upcoming conference tournament.

The Rams (15-13, 7-8), meanwhile, are looking to halt a slide, having lost four of their last five. They are coming off a 94-76 road loss to Saint Bonaventure on Thursday. Despite the team’s struggles, forward Tyler Cochran has been a consistent bright spot. He scored 21 points with seven rebounds in the loss and is averaging 20.2 points over his last five games, including a 34-point, 10-rebound performance in a win over Richmond on Feb. 7.

Rhode Island will rely on its home court, where it is 11-4 this season, to try and disrupt the Hawks’ rhythm. The Rams won the first meeting this season, 74-65, in Philadelphia on Jan. 10.

Saturday’s contest is a critical late-season test for both teams. Saint Joseph’s aims to secure a top-four conference tournament seed and a double-bye, while Rhode Island seeks to regain momentum and climb back to .500 in league play.

The game tips off at 2:00 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ESPN+.