# 1995–96 VCU Rams men's basketball team

The 1995–96 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. It was the 28th season of the University fielding a men's basketball program, and the program's first season in the Colonial Athletic Association, after previously playing in the Metro Conference. The Rams were coached by 7th year head coach, Sonny Smith.
The 1995-96 season was the first season in 11 years that the Rams earned a berth into the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The Rams won an automatic berth by winning the 1996 CAA men's basketball tournament, beating UNC Wilmington in the final. VCU's Bernard Hopkins won the CAA Tournament MVP Award.
In the NCAA Tournament, VCU entered as a 12-seed, where they played in the Southeast Regional bracket. The Rams lost to eventual Final Four contestant, Mississippi State 58-51 in the first round. The Rams would not return to the NCAA Tournament again until 2004.

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Non-conference regular season ||||||
| 11/24/1995* | | vs. Western Kentucky San Juan Shootout | W 83–65 | 1–0 | Torres Coliseum San Juan, PR |
| 11/25/1995* | | vs. Louisville San Juan Shootout | L 74–83 | 1–1 | Torres Coliseum San Juan, PR |
| 11/26/1995* | | vs. James Madison San Juan Shootout | W 66–60 | 2–1 | Torres Coliseum San Juan, PR |
| 11/30/1995* | | Xavier | W 81–75 | 3–1 | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 12/02/1995* | | at Liberty | L 71–86 | 3–2 | Vines Center Lynchburg, VA |
| 12/04/1995* | | FIU | W 82–61 | 4–2 | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 12/07/1995* | | Charlotte | W 85–74 | 5–2 | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 12/09/1995* | | Pittsburgh | L 69–72 | 5–3 | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 12/16/1995* | | at Rhode Island | L 63–68 | 5–4 | Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, RI |
| 12/21/1995* | | at Virginia Battle of I-64 | L 65–80 | 5–5 | University Hall Charlottesville, VA |
| 12/23/1995* 1:00 pm | | Illinois State | W 74–72 | 6–5 | Richmond Coliseum (3,031) Richmond, VA |
| 12/27/1995* | | vs. Jackson State UNO Christmas Classic | W 66–48 | 7–5 | Lakefront Arena New Orleans, LA |
| 12/28/1995* | | at New Orleans UNO Christmas Classic | L 75–92 | 7–6 | Lakefront Arena (1,413) New Orleans, LA |
| CAA regular season ||||||
| 01/04/1996 | | at William & Mary | W 70–47 | 8–6 (1–0) | Kaplan Arena Williamsburg, VA |
| 01/06/1996 | | at Old Dominion Rivalry | W 85–70 | 9–6 (2–0) | ODU Fieldhouse Norfolk, VA |
| 01/10/1996 | | George Mason Rivalry | W 86–74 | 10–6 (3–0) | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 01/13/1996 | | at East Carolina | L 72–73 | 10–7 (3–1) | Minges Coliseum Greenville, NC |
| 01/17/1996 | | James Madison | W 81–70 | 11–7 (4–1) | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 01/20/1996 | | Richmond Capital City Classic | W 79–51 | 12–7 (5–1) | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 01/26/1996 | | American | W 65–57 | 13–7 (6–1) | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 01/29/1996 | | at UNC Wilmington | W 63–45 | 14–7 (7–1) | Trask Coliseum Wilmington, NC |
| 01/31/1996 | | at George Mason Rivalry | W 94–81 | 15–7 (8–1) | Patriot Center Fairfax, VA |
| 02/03/1996 | | Old Dominion Rivalry | W 85–76 $^{OT}$ | 16–7 (9–1) | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 02/07/1996 | | William & Mary | W 83–68 | 17–7 (10–1) | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 02/10/1996 | | East Carolina | W 80–71 | 18–7 (11–1) | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 02/13/1996 | | at American | W 65–57 | 19–7 (12–1) | Bender Arena Washington, DC |
| 02/17/1996 | | at James Madison | L 75–76 | 19–8 (12–2) | JMU Convocation Center Harrisonburg, VA |
| 02/21/1996 | | UNC Wilmington | W 63–44 | 20–8 (13–2) | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 02/24/1996 | | at Richmond Capital City Classic | W 69–67 | 21–8 (14–2) | Robins Center Richmond, VA |
| CAA tournament ||||||
| 03/02/1996 | (1) | vs. (9) Richmond Quarterfinals | W 89–55 | 22–8 | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 03/03/1996 | (1) | vs. (5) East Carolina Semifinals | W 75–60 | 23–8 | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| 03/04/1996 | (1) | vs. (3) UNC Wilmington Championship | W 46–43 | 24–8 | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| 03/14/1996* | (12 SE) | vs. (5 SE) No. 23 Mississippi State First round | L 51–58 | 24–9 | RCA Dome Indianapolis, IN |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ||||||