Rhode Island's Matthews fully cleared for all basketball-related activities

Rhode Island has officially regained one of the biggest pieces of its starting lineup.

Shooting guard E.C. Matthews has been cleared for all basketball-related activities following a knee injury that cost him almost all of last season, Rams head coach Dan Hurley told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Matthews was named to the 2015-16 Preseason All-Atlantic 10 First Team before injuring his right knee in the Rams' season opener against American on Nov. 13.

As a sophomore, Matthews took his stellar freshman performance to the next level, averaging 16.9 points to go along with 4.6 rebounds and two assists in 32.9 minutes.

Rhode Island opens the 2016-17 season on Nov. 11 at home against Dartmouth.