Final Score: VCU 67, Syracuse 55
Location: Paradise Island, Bahamas (Atlantis Resort)
Current Records: VCU 3-2, Syracuse 2-2
The short story: Graduate forward Levi Stockard led three Rams in double figures with 15 points, and VCU held Syracuse to 29-percent shooting (18-of-62) on the opening day of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis.
OPENING TIP
· Stockard connected on 5-of-10 attempts from the field, as well as 5-of-5 from the free throw line. He also corralled four rebounds
· Junior guard Marcus Tsohonis enjoyed his best game as a Ram with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting. He buried 3-of-4 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc
· Senior guard KeShawn Curry provided blanket on-ball defense and supplied 11 points and five rebounds for the Black and Gold
· Junior forward Hason Ward added six points, four rebounds, three blocks and two steals for VCU
· Buddy Boeheim scored 20 points to lead Syracuse but was just 6-of-17 from the field, including 2-of-10 from 3-point range
THE DIFFERENCE
· VCU’s defense was exceptional. The Rams held the Orange to 5-of-23 shooting from 3-point range and forced 16 turnovers
· The Rams erased a four-point halftime deficit with a 9-2 burst, kicked off by a 3-pointer from Curry, to take a 32-29 lead with 16:31 remaining. The teams battled back and forth until Tsohonis buried his third 3-pointer of the night, and Ward slammed home a lob from Stockard to push the Black and Gold back in front 41-38 with 13:31 left. VCU would not trail again
· VCU shot .567 (17-of-30) from the field in the second half, including 5-of-10 from 3-point range. The Rams scored a season-high 44 points in that period
NOTABLE
· This is VCU’s first win over Syracuse in four tries. It was the first meeting between the two schools since 1992
· The Rams improved to 4-3 overall in three appearances at the Battle 4 Atlantis
· VCU’s bench outscored Syracuse’s 23-0
NEXT UP
VCU will take on the undefeated defending National Champion Baylor on Thursday, Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2.
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