Bears Outlast Rams

Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis

Final Score: #6 Baylor 69, VCU 61

Location: Paradise Island, Bahamas (Atlantis Resort)

Current Records: Baylor 6-0, VCU 3-3

 

The short story: Seniors Vince Williams and Levi Stockard combined for 30 points, as VCU battled sixth-ranked Baylor to the wire Thursday. But the 6th ranked Bears outlasted the Rams in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

 

OPENING TIP

·      Williams scored 12 of his game-high 17 points in the second half to keep VCU afloat. He knocked down 7-of-15 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range. The 6-foot-6 forward added five assists, three rebounds and two steals

·      Stockard turned in his second straight double-digit performance with 13 points for the Black and Gold. He connected on 5-of-7 from the field, as well as 3-of-4 from the line. He also provided six rebounds and three steals

·      Junior forward Hason Ward chipped in with six points, six rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot for VCU

·      Matt Mayer led a trio of Bears in double figures with 15 points. Freshman Kendall Brown scored all 14 of his points in the second half

 

THE DIFFERENCE

·      Baylor owned a 41-33 advantage on the glass, and used 17 offensive rebounds to claim a 15-3 margin in second-chance points

·      The Bears opened the second half with a 9-0 run, capped by a traditional three-point play by Mo Thamba, to extend their lead to 38-27 with 18:25 remaining. The rest of the game was a tug-of-war. VCU rallied to within 45-42 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Williams and junior guard Marcus Tsohonis, but Baylor promptly scored six straight points. The Rams narrowed the lead back to four on two occasions, but could get no closer

·      Baylor connected on 18-of-24 free throws, while VCU made seven in 13 trips. The Bears also outscored the Rams 20-14 off turnovers

 

NOTABLE

·      This was the fifth all-time meeting between Baylor and VCU, and the second straight in the series to take place at the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Bears lead the series 3-2

·      VCU is 4-4 all-time at the Battle 4 Atlantis

 

NEXT UP

VCU will face 22^nd-ranked UConn on Friday, Nov. 26 at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN2 to conclude play in the Bahamas. 

-- Info from Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D