In college basketball, a two-game losing streak is a serious thing. To have a starting point guard out for the upcoming game is tragic. The VCU Rams had lost their previous two matchups to the Rhode Island Rams and the Dayton Flyers. But Saturday, VCU got back in the win column against a St. Bonaventure Bonnies team that was undefeated in conference play, beating the Bonnies 91-63.
VCU starting point guard, Marcus Evans, was out of the game with the flu and a concussion. The Black and Yellow were also without forward Vince Williams, who had an injured index finger. Most teams would resort to panic mode with their best players out but the Rams have a deep roster and it certainly displayed its value in the St. Bonaventure challenge.
Filling in for Evans was freshman guard Bones Hyland. The contest was Hyland’s second career start and he did not disappoint. With 17 first-half points, he gave the Rams a much-needed boost that propelled them to a 28-point halftime lead.
VCU Head Coach Mike Rhoades did a great job with the rotations early in the game. He kept fresh legs on the court and utilized the full arsenal off the bench. He emphasized making sure there were two centers in the lineup and it was a strategy to which the Bonnies never adjusted.
Rhoades was pleased with how Evans gave the team energy from the sideline.
“When you’re on a team where there’s unbelievable positive talk,” the coach said, “it makes you play harder.”
The Rams dominated the second half from a collective standpoint. The players exhibited excellent ball movement and were technically sound defensively. Coach Rhoades has been impressed with the help defense from junior forward Corey Douglas.
VCU’s high point man was Hyland who finished with a career-high 21 points on 66 percent shooting. Center Marcus Santos-Silva shot an efficient 75 percent with 17 total points. The Rams finished shooting 52 percent from the field as a team while holding the Bonnies to 35 percent shooting.
The Rams went on to defeat the Bonnies 91-63, which moves them to 13-5 and 3-2 in Atlantic-10 play. St. Bonaventure’s loss drops the team to 12-6 and 4-1 in the Atlantic-10.
VCU will travel to Saint Joseph’s to take on the Hawks Tuesday, Jan. 21.