Score: VCU 84, Rhode Island 75
Location: Kingston, R.I. (Ryan Center)
Records: VCU 12-6 (3-2 Atlantic 10), Rhode Island 10-8 (1-4)
 
The short story: Sophomore guard Terrence Hill Jr. poured in a game-high 19 points off the bench to lead four VCU players in double figures as the Black and Gold powered to a win at Rhode Island Wednesday.
 
OPENING TIP

• Hill shot 7-of-11 from the field and also dished out three assists
• Senior guard Jadrian Tracey added 17 points and four rebounds for VCU
• Sophomore guard Ahmad Nowell and junior forward Michael Belle also contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively off the bench for the Black and Gold. Belle also grabbed five rebounds, handed out three assists and blocked two shots in 31 minutes
• Tyler Cochran supplied 17 points to pace Rhody 

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU shot 49 percent (27-of-55) from the field in the contest, including 41 percent (12-of-19) from 3-point range
• The Black and Gold committed a season-low five turnovers Wednesday. VCU forced 13 Rhode Island turnovers and outscored them 16-5 off turnover opportunities
• VCU's bench provided 49 of its 84 points
• VCU never trailed, but saw Rhode Island tie the game at 51-51 on a Cochran 3-pointer with 13:43 remaining. But VCU steadied the ship from there. Tracey answered with a traditional three-point play on the ensuing possession and junior guard Tyrell Ward buried a three from the right corner moments later to ignite a 20-5 VCU run over the next seven minutes
• The Black and Gold shot 56 percent (15-of-27) on the first half to build a 40-30 advantage at the break 

NOTABLE

• The Rams were playing Wednesday's game without the services of second-leading scorer and starting center Lazar Djokovic, who missed the game due to an illness
• Hill has reached double figures in eight straight contests
• VCU led for 38:45 of Wednesday's game
• VCU improved to 13-11 all-time against Rhode Island. The Black and Gold have won six straight in the series, including their last four at the Ryan Center

NEXT UP
VCU will return to the floor on Monday, Jan. 19 when it hosts Saint Joseph's at 3 p.m. at the Siegel Center in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee. CBS Sports Network will broadcast that contest.