For Shuler, it was his third consecutive 20-plus point performance. He was 9-of-18 from the floor, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range.

The Rams also received a breakout performance from freshman Lance Kearse (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers), who scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds. Kearse, who came in to the game averaging 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds, was 7-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-3 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Kearse, who had scored five points in his previous eight games, pumped in 10 in the first half alone to help lift the Rams to a 38-32 lead at intermission.

“Lance Kearse really came in and gave us a lift tonight,” VCU Head Coach Anthony Grant said. “Overall, we got some nice production off our bench, which allowed us to get a lead (in the first half).”

Also for VCU, junior guard Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C./Westover) added 17 points, while senior Michael Anderson (Virginia Beach, Va./Landsdown) provided 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.

Charles Jenkins paced the Pride with 18 points. Hofstra senior Antoine Agudio, the CAA’s leading scorer (23.2 ppg) was held to 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting. Guarded primarily by Shuler, Agudio finished well below his average for the second time in two meetings with the Rams. Agudio scored 13 points in VCU’s 59-49 win Jan. 12.

“Jamal’s got potential to be an outstanding defender,” Grant said. “The thing that I’m proud of is that he wants that responsibility. He wants to guard the other team’s best player."

The Black and Gold forced 22 Pride turnovers and owned a 37-36 advantage on the boards.