URI Loses on VCU's Late 3-Pointer

URI Loses on VCU's Late 3-Pointer

It was looking like URI was going to steal a game against the talented Virginia Commonwealth University team.

Then, VCU's Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland hit a long 3-point shot with five seconds on the clock to lead the visitors to a 63-62 victory over Rhode Island Wednesday night.

The Rams played without injured senior star Fatts Russell. URI had beaten VCU in January 83-68.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

URI (9-10, 6-6 Atlantic 10) had a chance to tie the score when freshman Ishmael Leggett drew a foul with 1.6 seconds to go, but the front end of a 1-and-1 bounced off, and Hason Ward secured the rebound and victory for VCU (13-4, 6-2 A-10). 

Rhode Island led by 10 points with 13:26 remaining, but VCU’s Hyland then scored 18 of his game-high 23 points in the second half.

URI did not score a  field goal over the final 2:36 as it dropped its second straight contest.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Five Facts:

- Freshman Ishmael Leggett made his second start in place of an injured Russell and scored a team-high 17 points in 35 minutes.

- Senior Jeremy Sheppard played all 40 minutes and had 13 points and six assists.

- For the first time since the Jan. 13 game at Massachusetts, Rhode Island had four players in double figures. Redshirt junior Antwan Walker had 11 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Makhel Mitchell added 10 points and seven boards.

- Mitchell also blocked three shots.

- Junior Malik Martin had seven rebounds, two blocked shots and one steal.

Up Next: Rhode Island is back at home to host Massachusetts Saturday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m.