RICHMOND (Interstat) — Torey Alston had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead VCU past Arkansas-Little Rock 82-72 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Monday at Siegel Center. The Rams, playing at home, improved to 1-0, while the visiting Trojans dropped to 0-1. Attendance was 7,637. VCU used a strong closing stretch and a large free-throw advantage to hold off Arkansas-Little Rock after the Trojans kept the game close for much of the second half.

Alston, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward and Winston-Salem Christian product, added one assist and two blocks in 30 minutes. Nyk Lewis finished with 15 points, three rebounds and five assists in 36 minutes, while Lazar Djokovic had 15 points, four rebounds, one assist and one block in 34 minutes. Blake Harper scored 14 points with three rebounds and one assist in 29 minutes. Brandon Jennings added seven points and four rebounds in 14 minutes for the Rams. VCU’s top star was Alston, who helped control the interior and the glass.

Arkansas-Little Rock was led by Jah’Likai King, who scored 27 points and added four rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes. King, a 6-foot-2, 160-pound guard from Newburgh, N.Y., and Newburgh Free Academy product, made pull-up jumpers and 3-pointers to keep the Trojans within striking distance. Papa Amadou Kante, a 6-foot-10 forward and South Kent Prep product, had 13 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block in 29 minutes. Aaron Clark added 11 points, four rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes. Taj Walters contributed five points, eight rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes, Bradyn Hubbard had three points, six rebounds and one block in 22 minutes, and the Trojans’ balanced supporting effort kept pressure on VCU.

VCU opened with a Lewis layup and a Djokovic 3-pointer before Arkansas-Little Rock settled in. Jalen Lyn made layups, Aaron Clark hit a 3-pointer and Taj Walters connected from beyond the arc as the Trojans traded baskets. King’s pull-up jump shot and Clark’s layup helped Arkansas-Little Rock stay close, and Kante scored inside with a hook shot and free throws. VCU led 37-33 at halftime after Nyle Ralph-Beyer made a 3-pointer in the closing seconds. The Rams extended the margin in the second half when Lewis scored on a floater, Alston finished an alley-oop, Djokovic made a layup and dunk, and Harper hit a stepback 3-pointer.

Arkansas-Little Rock did not fade. King made a 3-pointer with 1:24 remaining, then added a stepback jumper with 51.9 seconds left and another stepback 3-pointer with 41.6 seconds left to pull the Trojans within 78-72. VCU answered at the free-throw line. Djokovic made two free throws with 38.4 seconds remaining, and Ahmad Nowell made two more with 30.5 seconds left to close the scoring. Alston’s tip-in dunk earlier in the half and Harper’s 3-pointer with 9:39 remaining helped VCU create separation. The Rams also got late free throws from Lewis and Harper as the Trojans were forced to foul.

VCU shot 20 of 52 from the floor, 8 of 25 from 3-point range and 34 of 48 from the free-throw line. Arkansas-Little Rock shot 25 of 59 overall, 5 of 16 from beyond the arc and 17 of 21 at the line. Arkansas-Little Rock committed 38 fouls and VCU committed 17. The Rams had 13 offensive rebounds, six assists, three blocks and 13 turnovers. The Trojans had 10 offensive rebounds, seven assists, four blocks and 15 turnovers. Arkansas-Little Rock scored 72 points from 74 possessions for an offensive rating of 97.3, while VCU scored 82 points from 75 possessions for an offensive rating of 109.6.

The Trojans’ top overall performer was King, followed in impact by Alston, Lewis, Kante, Djokovic, Harper, Clark, Walters, Hubbard and Jennings. King’s 27 points came on a mix of drives, pull-ups and late 3-pointers, while Alston’s 12 rebounds and two blocks gave VCU a steady presence near the basket. Lewis directed the offense with five assists, and Djokovic and Harper provided timely scoring in the second half.

Arkansas-Little Rock’s upcoming schedule includes home games against Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State, Ark. Baptist, Lane and Southern Illinois, along with road games at New Mexico, Jacksonville, North Florida, Jacksonville State and Arkansas State. VCU next visits Memphis before hosting NJIT. The Rams also visit Santa Clara and Providence in Lahaina, Hawaii, host Coppin State, North Carolina Central, Central Connecticut and Morgan State, and travel to Florida Atlantic in Orlando, Fla., and Mississippi State in Huntsville, Ala.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of VCU 86, Arkansas-Little Rock 73. Interstat’s ELO system had projected VCU with a 99.3 percent probability to win. VCU had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 19. The total score of 154 went over the over/under line of 154.5.