Score: UMass 74, VCU 52
Location: Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center)
Records: VCU 17-9 (9-4 Atlantic 10), UMass 17-9 (8-6)
 
The short story: Senior guard Joe Bamisile led VCU with 13 points off the bench, but the Rams could not overcome an ice-cold start Tuesday at the Mullins Center.
 
OPENING TIP

• Bamisile also corralled four rebounds and knocked down 5-of-6 attempts at the free throw line for the Black and Gold
• Senior guard Max Shulga supplied 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the 3-point line for VCU. He added five rebounds and a steal
• Graduate wing Sean Bairstow chipped in eight rebounds and six assists to the VCU effort, while sophomore forward Tobi Lawal contributed six points and seven boards
• Josh Cohen led all scorers with 20 points for UMass, while Matt Cross turned in an 18-point, 12-rebound effort for the Minutemen

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU started cold and was unable to recover. The Rams missed their first 14 field goal attempts as UMass built a 17-2 lead to open the contest and took a 38-26 advantage into the locker room at halftime
• Bairstow found junior forward Roosevelt Wheeler for a dunk off a pick-and-roll to trim UMass' lead to 48-38 with 14:00 remaining. But the Minutemen promptly responded with a 7-0 burst, punctuated by a Jayden Ndjigue 3-pointer at the 12:01 mark. The Rams never seriously threatened again
• VCU shot just 30 percent (17-of-56) from the field in the contest, including 25 percent (7-of-28) in the first half
• UMass shot 48 percent (28-of-59) from the field in the game and owned a 41-33 rebounding advantage
• The Minutemen held a 23-3 margin in points off turnovers and 16-9 on second-chance opportunities

NOTABLE

• Shulga needs 21 points to reach 1,000 for his career
• The Rams fall to 9-4 all-time against UMass. VCU is 2-4 at the Mullins Center

NEXT UP
VCU will host Saint Joseph's on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. That match-up will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.