Rams Stiff-Arm Wildcats Rally

Final Score: VCU 70, Davidson 68 

Location: Davidson, N.C. (Belk Arena)

Current Records: VCU 12-6, 5-2 in A-10; Davidson 16-3, 6-1 in A-10.

Late in the second half, the surging Wildcats had collapsed all but one point of what had been a 15-point Rams lead. Then Vince Williams provided the two key game-saving plays that lifted VCU; on defense he took a charge and on offense he sank the last-minute basket that provided the thin margin that held off 25th-ranked Davidson's rally.

 

The info below was supplied by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.

OPENING TIP

·      Williams turned in an efficient performance to lead the Rams. He connected on 6-of-9 attempts from the floor, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, a team-high six rebounds and a team-high 16 points

·      Sophomore guard Ace Baldwin Jr. added 15 points and five steals for VCU, while senior forward Levi Stockard III supplied 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting

·      Luka Brajkovic led all players with 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Wildcats

 

THE DIFFERENCE

·      Davidson whittled what was once a 15-point VCU lead to just one, at 67-66, following three straight Foster Loyer free throws with 1:32 remaining. But Williams drove the lane and slammed home a pair on VCU’s ensuing possession to make it 69-66. Later, with the score 69-68, Williams drew a charge on Brajkovic in the low post with 13 seconds left. The Rams later connected on 1-of-2 at the line to take a 70-68 lead. Moments later, VCU sophomore Mikeal Brown-Jones blocked a 3-pointer by Brajkovic from the left wing and was fouled with .7 seconds remaining

·      Freshman guard Jayden Nunn sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a Baldwin trey in the final minute of the first half to provide VCU with a 37-29 halftime lead. Back-to-back buckets by Williams and freshman forward Jalen DeLoach capped a 6-1 VCU run to kick off the second half. The Rams would eventually push their lead to 15, at 67-54, on a traditional three-point play by Stockard with 5:04 left. Davidson responded with a 12-0 run over the next 3:30

·      VCU connected on 7-of-11 three-point attempts in the first half

·      The Rams shot .509 (27-of-53) from the field in the game and tied a season-low with seven turnovers. The Rams forced 15 Davidson turnovers

·      VCU limited Davidson to 3-of-14 shooting from 3-point range

 

NOTABLE

·      VCU’s win was its first at Belk Arena since Jan. 29, 2016, snapping a four-game losing streak in the building

·      The Rams’ win was their first over a top-25 opponents since they defeated LSU 84-82 at the Siegel Center on Nov. 13, 2019. It is VCU’s first top-25 road victory since a 62-59 triumph at Virginia on Nov. 12, 2013

·      VCU snapped Davidson’s 15-game win streak, the nation’s longest, and avenged a 63-61 loss at the Siegel Center eight days ago

 

NEXT UP

VCU will head to the Robins Center to face crosstown rival Richmond on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. on CBS Sports Network