THE BASICS
Rhode Island (14-4, 3-3 A-10) vs. VCU (14-4, 4-1 A-10)
Tip-Off: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 7:05 p.m. EST
Coverage: Watch: CBSSN | Listen: Varsity Network | Live Stats | Game Notes
RHODE ISLAND VS. VCU – SERIES NOTES
Rhode Island and VCU are meeting for the 23rd time, with each side winning 11 games thus far.
VCU has won four straight in the series, including an 88-67 victory last season.
URI is 5-3 when hosting VCU.
VCU enters the game in a three-way tie for second place in the Atlantic 10 at 4-1, while Rhode Island is one of three teams tied for fifth place at 3-3.
Rhode Island is looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since the start of conference play. VCU has won its last four games after losing its A-10 opener.
VCU is one of the top defensive teams in the country. It ranks second in the Atlantic 10 and 14th in the nation, allowing just 62.8 points per game.
VCU blocks an average of 5.6 shots per game, which ranks ninth in the country and third in the conference.
Opponents shoot just .391 against VCU, the second-lowest percentage in the A-10.
CBSSN TO CARRY THE GAME
Tuesday’s game is Rhode Island’s third in seven days.
CBS Sports Network will have the national broadcast, with Tom McCarthy on play-by-play and Isis “Ice” Young as the analyst.
Steve McDonald and Chris DiSano will have the audio call on the Varsity Network.
Tip time is set for 7:05 p.m.
LEGEND OF THOMAS CONTINUES TO GROW
Senior point guard Sebastian Thomas hit the game-winning shot in URI’s 92-90 win over Davidson Saturday, the fifth time this season he has provided the winning points with less than 30 seconds to go.
Against the Wildcats, Thomas banked home a running 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1.3 seconds on the clock just moments after Davidson had taken the lead.
Against George Mason on Jan. 4, Thomas hit a jump shot and was fouled with 0.9 seconds to go to lift the Rams to a 62-59 win. He made the free throw for a three-point play.
Against Temple on Dec. 21, Thomas hit a 3-pointer and was fouled for a four-point play with 21 seconds to go in a tie game. He then got a steal and made two more free throws to seal the 85-79 win.
On Dec. 2 in a 79-75 win over Yale, he was 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final 27 seconds.
Five days later, with URI up 64-61 against Providence, Thomas had a steal with 53 seconds to go, then hit a 3-pointer with 24 seconds to go to ice the win.
Thomas is at his best when the game is on the line. In the final minute of regulation and overtime, he is 9-for-14 (.643) from the field, 5-for-8 (.625) from 3-point range and 25-for-30 (.833) at the free throw line.
He has scored 48 points just in the final minute and overtime through 16 games.
His play down the stretch of close games is a major reason Rhode Island is 3-0 in one-possession games and 4-2 in games decided by five points or less.
Three of URI’s six conference games so far have been decided by one possession.
