SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Jim Baron made a change in his starting lineup last night for the first time all season.

Forward Delroy James had been struggling. After four straight double-figure games, he had gone four games in a row without reaching double figures. So Baron decided to give Jason Francis a start, with Kahiem Seawright moving from the five to the four spot.

"I was looking at film from last year and Jay played well against their big guy [Dane DiLiegro],'' Baron said. "I felt Jason being a senior and all. . ."

Francis, who is 6-foot-9 and about 300 pounds, has been slowed by knee problems and he cannot play for extended periods with the fast pace the Rams employ. But he got a couple of early rebounds and a field goal and handled himself well.

Francis took a bad spill early in the second half but is fine, Baron reported.

James said he learned about the change Tuesday.

"Coach said at practice that he was going to start Jason,'' James said.

James and Lamonte Ulmer were the first guys in off the bench, both entering five minutes in. URI had gotten off to a slow start. It trailed 7-6. James played with more energy than perhaps any game since his big outing at Duke. He hit two free throws and a 15-foot jumper soon after entering. He finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 18 minutes.

Rams force turnovers

The Rams continue to improve with their press.

The pressure defense was effective last night as it helped force 18 turnovers, 11 in the first half. URI scored 22 points off turnovers.

Keith Cothran was a key, as he usually is. Another guy who was effective was freshman point guard Stevie Mejia. Mejia had a clean steal, which he quickly turned into a basket in the early run that broke the game open. Mejia ended up playing 16 minutes and had seven points and four assists.

Marquis Jones continues playing solidly as the starter at the point. With Mejia getting into the rotation, the Rams are solid with their ballhandling. The team came in leading the Atlantic 10 in assist/turnover ratio. It had 19 assists, with 13 turnovers, last night.

Bring a toy

URI officials will conduct a toy drive at Saturday's game against Central Connecticut. The drive is in conjunction with the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program in Rhode Island. Anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy to the game will receive a Family Four-Pack to a future basketball game.

The game ball last night was presented by Capt. James Poland, who was commissioned in the infantry in 1990 from URI. He is currently the executive officer and team leader of a special forces operational detachment and is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan.

pkenyon@projo.com