Score: Davidson 75, VCU 65
Location: Davidson, N.C. (Belk Arena)
Records: VCU 18-13 (8-10 Atlantic 10), Davidson 16-14 (10-8)

The short story: Freshman guard Bones Hyland and junior forward Marcus Santos-Silva combined for 29 points for VCU, but it wasn't enough for the Rams to hold off a second-half surge by Davidson Friday night.

OPENING TIP

• Hyland finished with a team-high 17 points and knocked down 5-of-7 from beyond the 3-point arc. He added three assists
• Santos-Silva connected on 5-of-7 attempts from the floor and corralled five rebounds for the Black and Gold
• Senior guard Marcus Evans, playing in his first game since Feb. 21, provided seven points for VCU, while freshman forward Hason Ward contributed six points, five rebounds and a block
• Davidson was led by Kellan Grady's 18 points. Reigning Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year Jon Axel Gudmunsson supplied 17 points and six rebounds

THE DIFFERENCE

• Davidson shot 49 percent (23-of-47) from the field in the game, as well as 22-of-25 from the free throw line
• VCU led 53-51 following an alley-oop dunk by Ward with 12:09 remaining. Davidson responded with a 22-2 run over the next eight minutes, sparked by 10 points from Grady, to take a commanding 74-55 lead with 4:00 left
• Davidson outrebounded the Rams 29-25 and owned an 11-2 edge in second-chance points
• The Wildcats were 15-of-18 at the free throw line in the second half

NOTABLE

• Hyland's five 3-pointers gave him 63 for the season and moved him past B.A. Walker (59) for most in a single-season by a VCU freshman
• VCU hit 8-of-12 from beyond the arc to start Friday's game
• The Rams shot 47 percent (24-of-51) from the field

NEXT UP
VCU will be seeded ninth in the upcoming Atlantic 10 Conference Championship at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Rams will take on eighth-seeded UMass on Thursday, March 12 at Noon.