KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) Gilvydas Biruta scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half as Rhode Island rallied in the final period to beat Saint Joseph's 78-68 in Atlantic 10 Conference action on Saturday.
Rhode Island (21-8, 13-5) grabbed the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament, beginning March 11 in Brooklyn. The Rams, who received a double bye, will play in the quarterfinal round on March 13. Saint Joseph's awaits the outcome of other conference games Saturday.
Biruta made 5 of 7 field goal attempts, E.C. Matthews added 17 points, Hassan Martin had 14 and T.J. Buchanan 13.
Trailing 42-37 early in the second half Rhode Island had an 11-0 run to go up 48-42 with 15:31 left in the game. The Rams pushed that to 66-52 midway of the half when Biruta scored nine straight points, capped off by a three-point play.
DeAndre Bembry led Saint Joseph's (13-17, 7-11) with 21.
