Jim Baron says he would have reacted in disbelief if anyone had told him before the season that his Rhode Island team would open with a 14-1 record.

"I would have said, 'What are you drinking?'" Baron said.

But it's true whether the coach or his team ever imagined it.

Rhode Island (No. 22 ESPN/USA Today, No. 23 AP) is off to its best start since 1946-47, winning its ninth straight game Wednesday night, a 94-63 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in a final tuneup before entering Atlantic 10 play next Wednesday at Dayton (No. 23 ESPN/USA Today, No. 20 AP).

Jimmy Baron, the coach's son, was 6-of-8 from behind the 3-point line and finished with 22 points. Four other Rams scored in double figures, and six reserves combined for 42 points.