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.