Atlantic 10 Conference Quarterfinals
Score: VCU 73, Dayton 68
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 18-6, Dayton 14-9
 
The short story: VCU sophomore guard Bones Hyland returned to the lineup with 30 points and 10 rebounds to propel the Rams past Dayton and into the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Semifinals. Second-seeded VCU will meet third-seeded Davidson on Saturday, March 6 at 9 p.m. with a championship game berth on the line. CBS Sports Network will broadcast that contest.

OPENING TIP

• Hyland scored 22 of his 30 points in the first half as VCU built an 11-point lead. The sophomore also recorded 10 rebounds, three steals and three assists. It's Hyland's third double-double of the season
• Rams' sophomore forward Hason Ward submitted an all-around performance with 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks
• VCU freshman guard Ace Baldwin chipped in 10 points and two assists for the black and gold
• Rams' senior forward Corey Douglas converted 3-of-5 from the field and finished with eight points, three blocks and a pair of steals off the bench
• Jalen Crutcher led Dayton with 21 points

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU opened the game on an 11-1 run that as capped off by a steal and layup by Hyland
• The Flyers chipped away at the Rams' lead late in the first half and cut the deficit to seven with 1:44 remaining before the break. VCU responded with a 6-2 burst, punctuated by a Hyland fallaway jumper as the halftime buzzer sounded
• Leading 40-30 with 16:44 left in the game, the Rams went on a 15-6 run that stretched the VCU advantage to 19, the largest of the game
• Dayton responded with a 20-7 run of their own to climb back into the contest. The Flyers trailed by six with just under four minutes remaining
• Hyland and Douglas each sunk a pair of free throws to push the Rams' lead back to double digits as VCU held off the Flyers in the final minutes and secured the five-point win
• The Rams dominated around the basket scoring 38 points in the paint to Dayton's 22
• VCU forced 21 Dayton turnovers and converted those into 22 points

NOTABLE

• VCU returns to the A-10 semifinals for the sixth time since joining the league prior to the 2012-13 season. The Rams are unbeaten (5-0) in their previous semifinal appearances
• Hyland leads VCU this season with his three double-doubles
• Friday marked the third time this season Hyland had reached the 30-point mark. The sophomore was one point shy of his career-high of 31 he scored earlier this season against Western Carolina
• VCU recorded double-digit steals for the fourth time this season
• Dayton's 21 turnovers mark a season-high for the Flyers
• The Rams are 14-6 all-time in A-10 Tournament games