RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — VCU used a dominant second-half surge to pull away from Rider for a 100-79 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Monday night at a sold-out Siegel Center.

A crowd of 7,637 watched the Rams improve to 9-4 overall, while the visiting Broncs fell to 1-10.

The game was competitive for much of the first half, with Rider staying within single digits. VCU took a 45-36 lead into halftime but did not fully seize control until after the break. A 13-2 run early in the second half, fueled by consecutive three-pointers from guard Ahmad Nowell and capped by a Terrence Hill layup, stretched the Rams’ lead to 71-53 with 13:55 remaining. Rider could not mount a significant response, as VCU’s lead ballooned to as many as 23 points down the stretch.

Nowell, a freshman from Philadelphia, provided a massive spark off the bench for VCU. He scored 19 points in just 14 minutes of play, knocking down five three-pointers. His back-to-back triples during the decisive second-half run effectively put the game out of reach.

VCU’s depth and balance were overwhelming. Forward Keyshawn Mitchell of Brooklyn, New York, posted 14 points in 23 minutes. Serbian big man Lazar Djokovic added 13 points, while Hill finished with 12 points and three assists. Barry Evans contributed eight points, three assists and relentless defensive energy.

For Rider, Shemani Fuller led the way with 15 points, including several powerful finishes inside, and added two blocks. Zion Cruz of Trenton, New Jersey, facilitated the offense with 13 points and a game-high six assists. Caleb Smith from Atlanta also scored 13 points.

The most important sequence of the game occurred between the 16:15 and 13:55 marks of the second half. With VCU holding a 55-50 lead, the Rams unleashed their game-breaking run. It began with Nowell’s deep shooting and was punctuated by defensive stops and transition scores, turning a narrow margin into a comfortable 18-point advantage from which Rider never recovered.

VCU’s offense operated efficiently throughout, shooting over 50% from the floor for the game. Rider, which has struggled offensively all season, found more success than in recent outings but could not keep pace with the Rams’ firepower, particularly from beyond the arc.

The Rams now look ahead to their Atlantic 10 Conference opener against Saint Bonaventure on New Year’s Eve. Rider, mired in a nine-game losing streak, returns to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play next week against Manhattan.