RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — VCU used a dominant second-half performance and a barrage of three-pointers to pull away from Niagara for an 84-58 victory in nonconference men’s basketball Monday night at a sold-out Siegel Center.

The Rams, improving to 7-4, connected on 16 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc, a 48.5% clip that proved far too much for the visiting Purple Eagles to overcome. Niagara, which fell to 2-9, struggled offensively all night, shooting just 35.4% from the field and 25% from three-point range.

The game was competitive for much of the first half. After VCU’s Barry Evans opened the scoring with a three-pointer, Niagara responded with an 8-0 run, capped by a Landon Williams three-pointer, to take an early 8-3 lead. The Rams quickly regained control with their outside shooting, as Evans and Nyk Lewis hit consecutive threes to spark a 12-2 run. Niagara hung tough, however, with Kabeya Tshibangu providing energy off the bench with a pair of dunks. A Williams three-pointer with 3:49 left in the half brought the Purple Eagles within three points at 32-29.

The final minutes of the first half proved critical. VCU closed the period on a 5-0 spurt, ignited by a Terrence Hill three-pointer and capped by a Hill layup just before the buzzer, to take a 37-34 lead into the break. That momentum carried decisively into the second half.

VCU emerged from halftime with increased defensive intensity, forcing Niagara into difficult shots and capitalizing on the other end. The Rams opened the second half on a 12-4 run, extending their lead to 49-38. The surge was fueled by Michael Belle, who hit a three-pointer and converted a three-point play. Niagara’s offense, which managed only 24 points after halftime, could not find any sustained rhythm against VCU’s length and pressure. The Rams recorded nine blocks in the game, with Serbian center Lazar Djokovic swatting four shots.

The Rams steadily expanded their advantage throughout the half. A 9-0 run midway through the period, featuring another Belle three and a Djokovic dunk, pushed the lead to 65-46. VCU’s offensive efficiency was stark, scoring 84 points on just 65 possessions for an elite offensive rating of 129.3. Niagara, by contrast, managed only 58 points on 67 possessions.

Djokovic led all scorers with 18 points, adding four blocks and four rebounds. He was one of five Rams in double figures, joined by Belle with 15, Hill with 14, Lewis with 12 and Evans with 10. Lewis also contributed four assists. Williams led Niagara with 17 points, while Tshibangu added 10 points off the bench. Justin Page finished with 11 points for the Purple Eagles.

The announced attendance was 7,637. VCU will host American on Thursday, while Niagara returns home to face Houghton on Saturday.