AMHERST, Mass. (AP) _ Todd Bankhead threw two touchdown passes to Jimmie Howard in the first half and Massachusetts went on to beat Rhode Island 31-9 Saturday.

It was the fourth straight win for UMass (5-3, 5-1 Atlantic 10). Rhode Island, which had lost its first six games before beating Maine least week, now stands 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the A-10.

The Minutemen, defending NCAA Division I-AA champions, led 28-3 at halftime and scored only once in the second half, on a third-quarter 23-yard field goal by Jason Cherry.

Rhode Island, which took its only lead early in the first quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Ryan Szczesniak, scored in the fourth quarter on a 9-yard pass from Ken Mastrole to Matt Birkett.

The Minutemen went ahead for good early in the first quarter when wide receiver Adrian Zullo ran 49 yards on a reverse play. Before the quarter ended, Bankhead clicked for a 21-yard scoring pass to Howard.

In the second quarter, Bankhead converted a 68-yard touchdown pass play to Howard.

UMass's Marcel Shipp, who had his streak of 19 games with 100-plus yards rushing halted, scored on a 1-yard run to give his team its 25-point halftime advantage.

Shipp was held to 48 yards in 23 carries. Bankhead ended 16 for 27 for 322 yards passing.