Rhode Island guard E.C. Matthews out for season with knee injury

Rhode Island guard E.C. Matthews will miss the season with a knee injury.

Rhode Island guard E.C. Matthews will miss the season with a knee injury, the team announced Saturday.

Matthews, a junior, was an Atlantic 10 player of the year candidate. He injured his right knee during the first half of Rhode Island’s season-opening 65–42 win over American on Friday. The nature of the injury was undisclosed.

“The injury I sustained on Friday night vs. American will unfortunately keep me from playing the rest of this season,” Matthews wrote in a statement. “While the news has been a lot to process in such a short period of time, I know that it is a temporary setback and I will be back stronger and hungrier than ever before.  Whether it is a rehab or physical therapy session, I will fight to get better every day.  This is a new challenge and I am up for it.”

• GARDNER: Opening night impressions | DAVIS: SI’s weekend picks

A 6'5" shooting guard, Matthews averaged 16.9 points and 4.6 rebounds as a sophomore and was expected to again lead the Rams, a team with NCAA tournament aspirations this season.

- Jeremy Woo