No. 15 Virginia Commonwealth 96, Illinois State 58: Treveon Graham and Terrance Shannon scored 14 points apiece as the host Rams pulled away early.

Juvonte Reddic added 13 points and eight rebounds and Rob Brandenberg scored 12 for VCU (1-0). Briante Weber, the Atlantic-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season, contributed nine points, eight assists and five steals for the Rams.

Zach Lofton scored 12 points to lead Illinois State (0-1), the only team in the Missouri Valley Conference without a returning starter. Paris Lee, Daishon Knight and Jamaal Samuel were the next highest scorers for the Redbirds with nine points each.

Illinois State missed 15 of its first 16 field goal attempts as the Rams surged to a 35-8 lead behind three straight 3-pointers from Melvin Johnson, who finished with 11 points. The Rams had five turnovers in the game’s first nine minutes before finishing with 14.

The Rams held a 52-22 lead at the half after shooting 68.8 percent from the floor. They extended their lead to 41 points with 10 minutes remaining.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Knight was reinstated to the team Thursday after pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery and resisting arrest for an August incident in Bloomington, Ill. … The only other year Illinois State opened against a top 25 team was against Purdue in 1987. … Nine players made their Division I debut for VCU and 10 for Illinois State.