Short-handed VCU Tops St. Louis

Final Score: VCU 67, Saint Louis 65
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Current Records: VCU 17-5 (10-3 A-10), Saint Louis 11-5 (4-4)
 
The short story: Freshman Ace Baldwin Jr. sank a pair of go-ahead free throws with 4.7 seconds remaining to lift VCU past Saint Louis, 67-65 Tuesday night at the Siegel Center in a critical Atlantic 10 Conference match-up.

OPENING TIP

• Baldwin Jr. totaled a career-high 15 points and recorded seven assists in the game
• Junior forward Vince Williams Jr. scored a team-high 16 points and tallied nine rebounds to help the VCU cause
• VCU senior forward Levi Stockard III contributed nine points on 57 percent (4-of-7) shooting from the floor
• Freshman forward Jamir Watkins chipped in nine points, grabbed four rebounds and recorded three assists for the Black and Gold

 

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Billikens held a 65-63 advantage with just over one minute remaining in the contest. Baldwin Jr. drew a pair of fouls and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe down the stretch to give the Rams the game-deciding advantage. Saint Louis missed a long 3-pointer as time expired
• The first half was a back-and-forth affair that featured 12 lead changes. Saint Louis clung to a two-point lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half, but freshman guard Josh Banks knocked down a 3-pointer that sparked a 9-3 VCU run and gave the Rams a four-point lead at the break
• With Saint Louis leading 44-39 six minutes into the second half, VCU ripped off a 10-2 run that spanned three minutes of game time. The run was capped off by a 3-pointer from Williams Jr.
• The Rams scored 13 points off 15 Billikens’ turnovers
• VCU recorded 16 assists on 24 made field goals

 

NOTABLE

• VCU improves to 11-4 all time against Saint Louis, including 3-1in the Mike Rhoades era
• Williams Jr.’s nine rebounds match his career-high
• Saint Louis’ 15 turnovers are tied for the second highest mark by the Billikens this season.
• Box score
  

 

NEXT UP
 

VCU will hit the road to close out its 2020-21 regular season against Davidson at 2 p.m. Saturday. The game will air on ESPN2.

 

-- Game note from Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.