Mountaineers' Defense Stifles Rams

From: Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.

Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic - Semifinals

Score: #15 West Virginia 78, VCU 66

Location: Sioux Falls, S.D. (Sanford Pentagon)

Records: #15 West Virginia 2-0, VCU 1-1

 

The Short Story: Sophomore guard Bones Hyland scored a team-high 13 points, and VCU forced 21 turnovers, but ultimately 15^th-ranked West Virginia held off the Rams in a Thanksgiving Day contest in Sioux Falls, S.D.

 

OPENING TIP

·      Hyland led the Rams in scoring for the second straight day, but the defensive-minded Mountaineers did not make it easy, limiting him to 5-of-16 shooting from the field. Hyland added three rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists.

·      Junior forward Vince Williams provided another double-digit performance off the bench for the Rams with 11 points and three rebounds

·      Junior guard KeShawn Curry supplied eight points and four rebounds for the Black and Gold, while freshman point guard Ace Baldwin handed out six assists and grabbed a pair of steals. He committed just two turnovers

·      Derek Culver led all players with 23 points and 15 rebounds for West Virginia

 

THE DIFFERENCE

·      West Virginia used an early 10-2 advantage on the glass to fuel a 13-0 start. The Mountaineers finished the game with a 49-34 rebounding edge. WVU grabbed 23 offensive rebounds and turned them into 25 points

·      While neither team shot the ball particularly well overall, West Virginia managed to connect on 45 percent (14-of-31) of its attempts in the second half

·      VCU shot 3-of-21 from beyond the 3-point arc

·      The Rams used a 10-0 burst midway through the first half, punctuated by back-to-back buckets by Clark, to pull within 29-27. But West Virginia answered with a 14-4 burst to close the half

 

NOTABLE

·      Baldwin managed another steady performance at the point. In two games, the 6-foot point guard has dished out 13 assists with just four turnovers

·      Freshman forward Jamir Watkins turned in a seven-point, four-rebound effort for the Rams

 -   Box score 

NEXT UP

VCU will meet Memphis on Friday, Nov. 27 at 9 p.m. (EST) in the final day of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic.