Al Durham leads red-hot Providence into its highly anticipated matchup against Ishmael Leggett and rival Rhode Island in a battle for Ocean State supremacy on Saturday afternoon in Providence, R.I.

The Friars (7-1) are averaging 72.3 points per game and the Rams (6-2) are averaging 72.1 heading into their first meeting since Dec. 6, 2019, when Rhode Island ran away with a 75-61 home victory.

The teams did not meet last season due to pandemic-altered scheduling, snapping an 89-year streak of annual meetings dating back to 1933-34.