RICHMOND, Va. | Tobi Ewuosho led three players in double figures for Alabama State as the Hornets jumped on top of No. 19/21 VCU early Monday, before the Rams were able to pull away for a 78-62 victory at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

Ewuosho scored nine of his team-high 17 points in the first nine minutes of the game to help Alabama State (0-5) grab a 21-20 lead with 8:34 remaining in the opening half. The Hornets took a five-point lead early in the contest at 12-7 on a Leon Daniels three-pointer with 16:12 to play in the half, before VCU (6-0) stormed back to take a 20-16 lead with 11:13 to play in the half.

The Hornets went on a 5-0 run to grab the one-point lead with under nine minutes to play in the half, before VCU outscored the visitors 26-7 over the final 8:34 to take a 46-28 lead. Alabama State had a chance in the second half to pull within single digits before another Rams' run put the game away.

Ewuosho finished the night 6-of-9 from the floor and hit all four of his free throws. He also grabbed six rebounds, dished out a pair of assists and blocked a pair of shots. Meanwhile, Kevion Stewart added a career-high 14 points, including a pair of three-pointers; while Daniels added 11 points and seven rebounds in the loss.

Alabama State shot 38.2 (21-of-55) percent from the floor and 36.4 (8-of-22) percent from beyond the arc, while also hitting 70.6 (12-of-17) percent from the free throw line. The Hornets also dished out 12 assists and won the rebounding battle 38-33.

Marcus Evans was one of two players in double figures for VCU, pouring in a game-high 25 points on 8-of-11 (including five three-pointers) shots from the floor. Nah'Shon Hyland added 12 points, while Marcus Santos-Silva added nine points and nine rebounds.

The Rams finished the night shooting 47.2 (25-of-53) percent from the floor and 54.5 (12-of-22) percent from beyond the arc, while also shooting just 59.3 (16-of-27) percent from the free throw line.

Alabama State returns to action Friday afternoon at 1:30 pm in Niceville (Fla.) in the opening round of the Emerald Coast Classic against Chattanooga. The game will be carried on the Hornet Sports Network, beginning with pregame at 1:15 pm.

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