Fordham Rallies, VCU Survives

Final Score: VCU 66, Fordham 61

Location: Bronx, N.Y. (Rose Hill Gymnasium)

Current Records: VCU 17-7, 10-3 in A-10; Fordham 11-13, 4-8 in A-10

 

VCU's seniors, KeShawn Curry and Vince Williams, provided the leadership that allowed it to escape the Bronx with a win. Williams' 12 points in the first stanza helped establish a 14-point halftime lead for the hot-shooting visitors. In the second half, the VCU offense cooled off and Fordham collapsed the deficit to three points. Then, in the final minutes, Curry took charge with several clutch drives to the hoop, to stiff-arm the home team's rally. 

 

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

OPENING TIP

·      Curry continued his recent hot stretch by connecting on 7-of-11 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He added a pair of steals

·      Senior forward Vince Williams Jr. scored 19 points, including 12 in the first half as VCU built a 40-26 lead. He hit 7-of-9 attempts from the floor, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range and also supplied seven rebounds for the Black and Gold

·       Josh Colon-Navarro led Fordham with 20 points on the night

 

THE DIFFERENCE

·      VCU forced 15 first-half turnovers and shot 69 percent (18-of-26) in the period on the way to a 40-26 halftime lead. The Black and Gold led by as many as 17 in the first

·      VCU scored 22 points off Fordham turnovers and outscored the hosts 40-28 in the paint

·      Fordham chipped VCU’s lead down to 50-47 with 6:58 remaining on a fast break layup by Zach Riley, but the Black and Gold responded when Curry drove to the rim on the ensuing possession for two. Moments later, Williams buried a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to push the VCU lead to 55-47 with 5:03 left

·      Curry added another layup and hit 5-of-6 at the free throw line in the final 2:23 to preserve the VCU victory

 

NOTABLE

·      VCU has won four straight overall and improved to 8-1 on the road this season. VCU is 6-1 on the road in Atlantic 10 Conference play, the second-most since it joined the league in 2012-13. VCU’s 2018-19 squad finished 7-2 on the road in A-10 play

·      Curry has topped 20 points two times in the past three games. His career-high prior to his recent outburst was 14 points

·      VCU improved to 11-1 all-time against Fordham

 

NEXT UP

VCU will return to the Stuart C. Siegel Center on Friday, Feb. 18 when it hosts Richmond in the Richmond Area Honda Dealers Capital City Classic on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.