Score: VCU 88, Rhode Island 67
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 19-9 (11-4 Atlantic 10), Rhode Island 11-17 (5-10)

The short story: Senior guard Max Shulga scored 20 points, including the 1,000^th of his career, and VCU built a big early lead and never looked back in a comfortable win over Rhode Island Wednesday.
 
OPENING TIP

• Shulga connected on 6-of-9 attempts from the field, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range. He buried a step-back 3-pointer from the right corner at the 2:34 mark of the first half to eclipse the 1,000-point mark. He added five rebounds
• Senior guard Joe Bamisile led all scorers with 24 points for VCU – his fifth 20-point game of the season. He knocked down 5-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc and hauled in four rebounds and a pair of steals
• Graduate wing Sean Bairstow converted 7-of-11 attempts from the field on the way to a 16-point night for the Black and Gold
• VCU senior guard Zeb Jackson turned in a superb all-around effort with 11 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals
• David Green led Rhode Island with 16 points

THE DIFFERENCE

• Bamisile scored seven points in a two-minute stretch midway through the first half as VCU built a 21-5 lead with 11:05 remaining in the period. The lead would swell to as many as 21, at 38-17 with 2:34 left following back-to-back treys from Shulga and Bamisile. Rhode Island shot just 28 percent (7-of-25) in the first half, including 2-of-12 from three as the Black and Gold took a 42-21 lead into the locker room at the break. VCU never looked back and led by as many as 29 in the second half on the way to victory. VCU never trailed
• VCU shot 48 percent (30-of-62) from the field in the game
• The Black and Gold owned a 37-30 rebounding advantage and turned Rhody over 15 times
• VCU owned a 15-5 edge in points off turnovers, as well as a 36-26 scoring margin in the paint 

NOTABLE

• VCU has evened the all-time series between the two schools at 11-11. The Black and Gold have won four straight in the series
• Shulga, who connected on 6-of-8 free throw attempts Wednesday, raised his season total to 119, and he needs just seven more to crack VCU's single-season top-10 list

NEXT UP
VCU will visit crosstown rival Richmond for the second time this season on Saturday, March 2 at 6 p.m. at the Robins Center. That contest will air on CBS Sports Network.