Rams Coast to Road Victory: VCU 80, St. Joe's 64

Final Score: VCU 80, Saint Joseph’s 64

Location: Philadelphia, Pa. (Hagan Arena)

Current Records: VCU 8-2 (1-0 A-10), Saint Joseph’s 0-6 (0-1)

 

The short story: Junior small forward Vince Williams scored a career-high 17 points, while VCU forced 25 turnovers on the way to an 80-64 win over Saint Joseph’s in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both schools.

 

OPENING TIP

·      Williams played a complete game. He connected on 6-of-11 shots from the field an added seven rebounds and three assists.

·      Four other Rams scored in double-digits. Freshman point guard Ace Baldwin provided 12 points, four rebounds and four steals, while senior Levi Stockard III, junior KeShawn Curry and freshman Jamir Watkins added 10 points each

·      Dahmir Bishop led all players with 20 points for Saint Joseph’s

 

THE DIFFERENCE

·      Baldwin sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a triple from Watkins to fuel a 17-0 VCU blitz over an eight-minute stretch in the first half that provided the Rams with a 29-22 lead

·      VCU forced a season-high 25 turnovers and turned them into 29 points

·      The Hawks hit four straight 3-pointers to storm to an 18-8 lead in the game, but shot 3-of-20 from long distance the rest of the way

·      Saint Joseph’s shot .321 (9-of-28) in the second half

·      VCU shot .464 (26-of-56) in the game, including .412 (8-of-19) from 3-point range

 

NOTABLE

·      VCU has forced 15 or more turnovers in all 10 games this season

·      The Rams recorded five players in double figures for the first time since Jan. 28 last season against Richmond

·      VCU has won a season-high six straight games

·      The Rams have shot .455 or better from the field in five straight contests

-    Box Score

 

NEXT UP

VCU will open 2021 when it hosts Davidson on Saturday, Jan. 2 at the Siegel Center. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network. 

-- Game notes furnished by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.