KINGSTON, R.I. -- A total of 364 days elapsed between games for No. 23 Rhode Islands E.C Matthews.Matthews, who missed all but 10 minutes of last season after tearing his right ACL, played like he never missed any time as he scored 21 points Friday night to key an 84-61 victory over Dartmouth in the season opener for both teams.It was amazing just being out there with my teammates, Matthews said after connecting on 75 percent (9-for-12) of his shots. I almost forgot because its been so long. You could feel the excitement in the air.Coach (Dan Hurley) had to calm me down. He called me last night to let me know just to let it come. It felt good to be back. Ive been doing this my whole life. Just being comfortable and reading and reacting and having a good pace are important.Matthews was one of a trio of Rams who scored in double figures.Hassan Martin recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Kuran Iverson added 11 points.Rhode Islands suffocating, man-to-man defense also factored in the Rams lop-sided victory.We got separation in the second half, Hurley said. We played a level of defense that was an elite defense. We held them to 35 percent from the field and forced 20 turnovers. Thats kind of who we are.The Big Green, who trailed 39-26 at halftime, was led by Evan Boudreauxs 14 points and Guilen Smiths 13.We got off to a slow start on defense, Hurley said. I thought we were jittery to start. At the first timeout we did not do a real good job but then we picked it up.We were hoping to have 22 to 24 steals. We wanted to keep them under 38 percent from the field and we did that. But our defense has to be an elite defense for us. We have a lot of athletes. We come at people in waves.BIG PICTUREDartmouth: First-year head coach Dave McLaughlin inherits a team that was 10-18 last season and includes six freshmen on its roster. In order for the Big Green to qualify for the Ivy Leagues first-ever, post-season tournament (the top four teams qualify) theyll have to improve on last seasons sixth-place finish.Rhode Island: After defeating Dartmouth, the Rams play home games against Marist College and Brown University which should give coach Dan Hurley an idea of the players he can count on to play meaningful minutes. That will be important because the Rams play a potential Top 25-calibre team in Cincinnati at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at the Mohegan Sun Arena on November 19.POLL IMPLICATIONS: A lop-sided victory could ensure that Rhode Island remains ranked in the Top 25 and that the Rams may move up a notch in the next poll.STAT OF THE NIGHT: Rhode Island had 11 assists, turned the ball over 11 times and blocked 11 shots.STAR WATCH: Hassan Martin began the game as Rhode Islands career leader in field goal percentage (57.3 percent). That percentage should go up a couple of decimal points because Martin only missed one of his six shots.TURNING POINT: Rhode Island led 32-24 with 4:02 left in the first half when Christion Thompson stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for a dunk. That play ignited a 21-6 run which gave the Rams a 53-30 lead. Dartmouth failed to get closer than the final score.ROLE PLAYER: Sophomore Nicole Akele came off the bench to score nine points in 17 minutes. Even though this only was one game, Akeles play may be an indication of Rhode Islands depth.SAME OLD STORY: The Big Green committed 401 turnovers last season and ranked seventh in the Ivy League in assist-to-turnover ratio. Dartmouth repeated that scenario by turning the ball over 20 times and assisting on only six baskets.UP NEXT;Dartmouth: The Big Green return home on November 15 to host Fairfield in another non-conference game. The Stags are coming off a 19-victory season during which they earned a post-season berth.Rhode Island: The Rams host Marist College on November 14. The Red Foxes, who lost to No. 1 Duke on Friday, finished 7-23 last season and 4-16 in the MAAC Scontate Epic React Flyknit Nero Nero/Nero-Scuro Grigio-Pure Platinum . LUCIE, Fla. Scontate Air Footscape Mid Utility Obsidian Bianco . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. http://www.epicreactflyknitscontate.it/scontate-sean-wotherspoon-x-air-max-jan-97-hybrid-lt-blu-fury-lemon-wash.html . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Scontate Air Max 270 Chiaro Bone/Bianco-Nero-Hot Punch .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Scontate Air Footscape Mid Utility Nero Cargo Khaki .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach.Great Britain gymnast Louis Smith has been warned that his criticism via Twitter of judges at this months national championships was not acceptable. British Gymnastics said in a statement on Monday that it had accepted an apology from Smith and made clear that the 26-year-old is fully aware of the consequences of any further indiscretions.Smith, who retired in 2013 but returned a year later, is hoping to compete at the Rio Olympics in August, but lost to team-mate Max Whitlock at the British artistic gymnastics championships in Liverpool on April 10. Surviving the circus Louis Smith on the drama of returning to gymnastics After the event, Smith replied to a comment on Twitter by posting: I am actually really bitter. Thought I done enough, passionate about my sport my journey and my dreams. Still happy for Max. The cut is open and deep and the judges are rubbing salt in it. Ha Ive never been the guy to keep quiet.I aired my frustration, verbally and through social media because I genuinely thought I had performed the best routine of the day, he said in a statement published on the British Gymnastics website on Monday. I realise the way that I expressed my feelings was wrong and it should never have happened. Louis Smith on his Twitter comments Having had time to cool off, and following conversations with British Gymnastics, who have helped me see the consequences of my actions, I realise the way that I expressed my feelings was wrong and it should never have happened.Smith apologised to his team-mates, the fans and judges for any offence caused and said he would get back in the gym to focus on next months European championships and Olympics.ddddddddddddBeing a gymnast can be difficult because the sport is subjective; coupled with that I am very driven, and passionate about the sport that I love, said Smith. Louis Smith and Sky Scholar Sam Oldham discuss their Olympic preparation None of that is meant to be an excuse for my behaviour, but I am human and I let my emotions get the better of me.Smith took a pommel horse silver medal at his home London Games in 2012 and a pommel horse bronze in Beijing in 2008.The individual members of the British team to travel to Rio are due to be announced in July. Also See: About the Scholarship Meet the athletes Blogs Videos Galleries Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys China ' ' '