With big men Justin Tillman saddled with foul trouble and Mo Alie-Cox limited to 7 points, Hamdy kept the inside attack by going 4 for 5.

Crowfield, averaging 2 points, nailed a trio of 3-pointers. He hadn’t scored more than 5 points in any of the past seven games.

Eight of VCU’s nine players scored at least 7 points. Lewis had 16.

“(Williams) was a big key to the game,” UR coach Chris Mooney said. “He scored well above his average. I think those points were important, and they made us make adjustments.

“I think that really was the difference in the game. There were guys who were not at the top of their statistical categories that really hurt us.”

Williams returned from the Rams’ shoot-around at UR Thursday night and spent more time shooting at VCU’s Development Center.

“We’ve been on him a lot these past few days in practice, just because we know the type of player he can be and we know what type of work he put in this summer,” Lewis said. “We just want him to start showing it, not just every other game. This is what he can bring to the table every game. He can put pressure on a lot of defenses in transition because he’s a strong, fast, athletic guard. When he does that, he opens up a lot for everybody.”