FACTS & STATS: Site: Qwest Center OMAHA (15,500) -- Omaha, Nebraska. Television: ESPNU. NIT Record: URI 9-12, Creighton 3-8. Series Record: First- ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: A pair of 21-win teams meet up in the first round of the NIT tonight, as they Creighton Bluejays host the Rhode Island Rams at the Qwest Center. The victor of this matchup will face either Florida or San Diego State in the next stage of the tourney. The Rams' season began with so much promise, as they won 14 of their first 15 games and even cracked the Top 25. At that point, URI looked like a lock to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, but the team went just 7-10 the rest of the way, including a first round loss in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Despite the poor finish, the Rams were invited to participate in the NIT, where they have gone 9-12 all-time. As for Creighton, it reached the 20-win plateau for the 10th consecutive season, helping the program land its 11th straight postseason bid. In eight prior appearances in the NIT, the Jays have gone just 3-8 and that includes a less than stellar 1-4 mark at home. This is the program's first appearance in the NIT since 2006. Tonight's contest marks the first-ever meeting between URI and Creighton on the hardwood.

The Rams are one of the premier scoring teams around and they head into the game averaging a healthy 80.9 ppg on an efficient 47.1 percent shooting from the field and 38.0 percent from beyond the arc. Will Daniels tops the squad in scoring at 18.7 ppg and he is also snaring 6.7 rpg and knocking down 50.3 percent of his attempts from the floor. Jimmy Baron is accurate from both three-point range (.409) and the foul line (.913) and that has helped him average 14.3 ppg for the season. Parfait Bitee runs the offense with a team- high 4.8 apg to his credit, and he is also scoring 12.0 ppg and shooting an unconscious 51.2 percent from long distance.

Behind their balance and sound play, the Jays are producing 72.0 ppg on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 37.0 percent from downtown for the season. P'Allen Stinnett has fared well at both ends of the floor for Creighton and he leads the club in scoring (12.4 ppg) as well as steals (49). Dane Watts is another player that has been effective for the Jays, as he turns in 11.5 ppg and a team-best 6.3 rpg. Neither Booker Woodfox nor Cavel Witter have started a game this season, but they rank third and fourth in scoring with 9.4 ppg and 9.0 rpg, respectively.

With the support of their fans and a solid showing at both ends of the court, expect the Jays to outlast URI for the win tonight.

Predicted Outcome

Creighton 84, Rhode Island 70