THE BASICS
Rhode Island (10-7, 1-3 A-10) vs. VCU (11-6, 2-2 A-10)
Tip-Off: Wedesday, Jan. 14, 6:05 p.m.
Coverage: Watch: CBSSN | Listen: Varsity Network | Live Stats | Game Notes

RHODE ISLAND VS. VCU - SERIES NOTES

• VCU has a slight edge in the all-time series, going 12-11 against Rhode Island.
• Rhode Island is 5-4 in the Ryan Center against VCU, despite losing the last three times the teams have played in Kingston.
• VCU has won the last five meetings overall.
• Rhode Island enters the game looking for its first home win in Atlantic 10 play.
• VCU is looking to snap a two-game conference losing streak after falling at George Mason (86-80) and at home against Saint Louis (71-62) in its last two contests.
• Lazar Djokovic entered the week leading the Atlantic 10 in made free throws (86) while ranking second in free throw attempts (111).
• As a team, VCU gets to the free throw line 26.6 times per game, which ranks 18th nationally.
• The visiting Rams have significant depth, getting 36.5 bench points per game. That ranks VCU 12th nationally.

CBSSN HAS THE GAME

• For the third time in four games, Rhode Island will play in a nationally-televised game, as CBS Sports Network has the television broadcast.
• As the first game of a national tripleheader, the game tips off at 6:05 p.m.
• Chris Baker and Steve Lappas have the call for CBSSN, while Steve McDonald and Chris DiSano will have the audio stream on the Varsity Network.
• Following Rhode Island-VCU on CBSSN will be San Diego State-Wyoming and then Nevada-Utah State. 

HAVE DEFENSE, WILL TRAVEL

• Rhode Island won by 25 points at Davidson on Saturday, the program's largest margin of victory in a road game since the 2019-20 season.
• URI won by 31 points at George Washington (82-51) on Feb. 8, 2020.
• Over the last 10 seasons, Rhode Island has recorded four road victories by 25 points or more: 90-56 at Saint Louis on Dec. 30, 2016 (34 points); 89-62 at Middle Tennessee State on Dec. 29, 2020 (89-62); and the game at George Washington mentioned above.
• The 45 points allowed at Davidson on Saturday matched the fewest given up by the Rams this season (62-45 win over Canisius on Dec. 16).
• It was the fewest points Rhode Island has allowed in a road game in 11 seasons, dating back to a 75-43 win at Southern Miss on Dec. 6, 2015.
• Rhode Island is allowing 65.9 points per game, which ranks 26th nationally.
• That number dips to 61.5 points allowed per game in Atlantic 10 play, which is 3.8 points fewer per game than Dayton (65.3 points/game). Dayton has the second stingiest defense during A-10 play.
• Since the start of December, Rhode Island is allowing 64.4 points over the course of nine game.
• In five of the last nine games, URI's opponent has had 61 points or less.
• The Rams force 14.8 turnovers per game, which ranks second in the conference.
• Only Dayton (16.9 turnovers per game) forces more mistakes per game by the opposition.

JOHNSON QUARTERBACKED THE SHOW

• Despite coming off the bench in every game thus far, point guard RJ Johnson ranks second in the Atlantic 10 with a 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• In Saturday's win at Davidson, Johnson had seven assists while playing a season-high 30 minutes.
• He was on the court to start the second half for the first time this season and wound up playing 18 of 20 minutes in the half.
• Johnson was plus-16 for the game despite not scoring a point.
• For the season, he has a team-high 50 assists while committing just 19 turnovers.
• Rhode Island is 8-1 when Johnson has at least three assists in a game.
• He is averaging 4.1 points and 3.1 assists per game.
• Johnson entered the week with 425 career assists. 

HARPER SEEING SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN MINUTES

• True freshman guard Jalen Harper was plus-five in 15 minutes off the bench Saturday at Davidson, chipping in two points, two rebounds, two blocks and one assist.
• Over his last five games, Harper is averaging 4.2 points and 1.6 rebounds while playing 14.2 minutes per game.
• In the first 12 games of the season, he did not score a point and averaged 1.2 rebounds while playing 4.5 minutes per game.
• He did not play six times in the first 12 games.