The latest chapter in Virginia Commonwealth University’s long history of playing historically Black colleges and universities didn’t go well for the visitors from Greensboro, N.C.

In a Dec. 9 game lacking both suspense and fans — only 250 spectators because of limits due to COVID-19 — the host VCU Rams routed North Carolina A&T State University 95-59.

Bones Hyland, a sophomore guard from Wilmington, Del., nailed seven 3-pointers while pacing the Rams with 30 points.

MEAC member North Carolina A&T had little chance against the Rams’ relentless “havoc” style. The Aggies were leg weary from the start, having played Longwood University the previous night in Farmville.

Few traditionally white schools have faced more HBCUs than VCU. Since the 1968-69 season, the Rams have played 20 different HBCUs, starting with a loss to Maryland State, now the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, in 1968.

With no central database for reference, Georgetown University is likely the national leader in scheduling HBCUs, with 25 HBCUs on the Hoyas’ all-time opponents list.

For the most part, VCU’s games against HBCUs have tilted in the Rams’ direction. VCU’s overall record in these games is 50-5, with the last loss at Hampton University in 2007.

Probably VCU’s toughest defeat to an HBCU came on Feb. 2, 1973, the night the Rams lost to rival Virginia Union University 77-75. It marked VCU’s only loss ever at the Franklin Street Gymnasium.

Officially, the Rams are 9-2 overall against VUU, but VCU lost two exhibition games to the Panthers in the early 2000s.

VCU and VUU last met in an official game in 1995, with the Rams edging the Panthers 62-59 at the Richmond Coliseum. Ben Wallace was playing for VUU at the time.

VCU and VUU had never met before the 1968-69 season, when then-VCU Coach Benny Dees and then-VUU Coach Tom Harris shook hands on creating an inner-city rivalry. At the time, VCU had no conference affiliation and was under the NAIA umbrella.

Like now, VUU was part of the CIAA at the time.

Most HBCUs that might face VCU now are from the historically Black Division I conferences, the MEAC, which North Carolina A&T belongs to, and SWAC.