SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Interstat) — The Rhode Island Rams will look to halt a two-game skid and protect their home court when they host the struggling La Salle Explorers in an Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball matchup Wednesday afternoon at the Ryan Center. The Rams (9-6, 0-2 A-10) opened conference play with consecutive road losses, most recently falling 61-50 at George Mason on Saturday. Defense has been a constant for Rhode Island, which ranks among the league’s best units. A key catalyst is forward Keeyan Itejere, who is coming off a 10-point, six-rebound, three-block performance against the Patriots. Over his last five games, Itejere has averaged 7.8 points and 4.0 rebounds while serving as a rim-protecting presence. They face a La Salle team (4-11, 0-2) mired in a six-game losing streak. The Explorers are coming off a 77-55 defeat at George Washington, where their offensive struggles continued. La Salle has failed to reach 65 points in four of its last five games. The bright spot for the Explorers has been the recent surge of guard Rob Dockery. After a stretch of limited production, Dockery has scored in double figures in two of the last three games, including a 23-point effort on 9-of-15 shooting against the Colonials. His scoring punch will be vital for a team seeking its first win since Dec. 6. Rhode Island has dominated the recent series, winning the last five meetings. In their lone matchup last season, the Rams secured a 78-63 victory in Philadelphia. The game marks the start of a critical homestand for Rhode Island, which plays three of its next four at the Ryan Center. La Salle continues a grueling opening to A-10 play, facing its third straight opponent with a winning record. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.