VCU rolls past Rhode Island 83-67

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Mo Alie-Cox scored 21 points, Melvin Johnson added 19 and VCU rolled to an 83-67 victory over Rhode Island on Tuesday night.

VCU (19-7, 11-2 Atlantic 10) has won 14 of its last 16 games and pulled a half-game back of conference leader Dayton (21-3, 11-1), which plays Saint Joseph's (21-4, 10-2) on Wednesday night. Rhode Island (14-12, 6-7) has lost four of its last six games.

Alie-Cox was 10 of 12 from the floor and Johnson finished on 7-of-14 shooting with four 3-pointers. Korey Billbury added 14 points for VCU, which shot 53 percent from the field.

Jared Terrell scored 22 points and Hassan Martin added 19 for Rhode Island.

Billbury scored eight points as part of a 10-2 spurt to end the half and give VCU a 37-23 halftime lead. The Rams stretched the lead to 63-41 midway through the second half and cruised from there.