WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Marquis Jones and Will Martell had an enjoyable return last night.

The two URI sophomores are both from New Jersey and had friends and family in the stands for the game against Monmouth at Boylan Gym. Jones took only one shot all night (and missed it), but still had plenty to be happy about.

The Rhody point guard had six assists and two steals, with only one turnover.

“My job is to make everybody else better and to be the main focus point on defense by pressuring the point guard,” he said. “I’m trying to get everybody else better, that’s where I get my pleasure.”

Jones, who is tremendously improved from last season, now has 14 assists with only three turnovers. He is a perfect fit on this team. The Rhody roster is loaded with guys who can score but who need the ball. Jones is doing an excellent job in spreading the ball around and protecting it, as well. He was not at all unhappy that he only took one shot.

“We won. I can take none, but if we win by 25 I’m happy,” he said. Doing it in his home state was simply a bonus.

“It’s always good to be in Jersey,” he said.

Martell hurts ankle

Martell was more up and down. The 7-footer, who, like Jones, is a far better player than he was in his first season, entered the game early, just over six minutes in. But was called for two fouls and had a turnover in barely one minute of play. He did not play the rest of the first half.

He was much better in the second half, scoring six points and pulling down five rebounds. His night ended badly, though, as he sprained his ankle in a spill under the basket late in the game. It is not known how badly the ankle is hurt.

Ex-URI ball boy Web editor

A former URI ball boy is chronicling Atlantic 10 basketball.

Chris DiSano is the editor of a Web site, collegechalktalk.com, the new unofficial Internet home for Atlantic 10 fans. The site has been so well received that the Atlantic 10 has become a supporter.

DiSano, an attorney who now lives in North Carolina, grew up in Warwick as a URI fan. His mother, Laura, is a former president of the URI Alumni Association, and his father, Dennis, was the longtime band director at Cranston West. When DiSano was 12, he was the ball boy at Keaney Gym. While he went to college at James Madison and law school at Syracuse, he was maintained a loyalty to URI and the Atlantic 10, to the point where he now is affiliated with the conference.

DiSano and fellow URI fan Andrew Greene run the site specifically to provide information about the A-10.

pkenyon@projo.com