Score: Rhode Island 87, VCU 75
Location: Kingston, R.I. (Ryan Center)
Records: VCU 16-6 (6-3 Atlantic 10) Rhode Island 16-5 (8-1)

The short story: Freshman guard Bones Hyland and senior swingman Issac Vann combined for 29 points and led a valiant VCU second-half comeback, but it wasn't enough to overcome Rhode Island Friday night in Kingston.

OPENING TIP

• Hyland scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the second half as the Black & Gold looked to rally back from a 29-point deficit. He connected on 6-of-12 attempts, including 2-of-5 from beyond the 3-point arc
• Vann added a season-high 13 points, including eight after the break. He was 6-of-9 from the floor and corralled four rebounds for VCU
• Senior guards De'Riante Jenkins and Marcus Evans added nine points each to the VCU cause
• Rhode Island's Fatts Russell led all scorers with 30 points. He was 16-of-18 at the free throw line. Tyrese Martin added 18 for URI

THE DIFFERENCE

• Rhode Island got off to a blazing start and shot 50 percent in the first half on the way to a 49-27 lead at the break. URI pushed its advantage to as much as 63-34 with 16:05 left on a 3-pointer by Russell
• URI owned a 38-22 advantage on the glass and connected on 26-of-33 free throws. Rhody shot 49 percent (27-of-55) from the field
• VCU fought to the end. The Black & Gold sprang to life with a 24-4 burst that included back-to-back 3-pointer from Jenkins and freshman forward Jarren McAllister to pull within 67-58 with 6:18 left. But Rhode Island had answers down the stretch. VCU would close within nine three more times, but could get no closer

NOTABLE

• VCU shot 56 percent (30-of-54) in the contest, including 69 percent (18-of-26) in the second half
• McAllister connected on his first career 3-pointer in the game and finished with a season-best seven points

NEXT UP
VCU will host Davidson on Friday, Feb. 7 at the Stuart C. Siegel Center at 7 p.m. That game will be broadcast on ESPN2.