VCU coasts past Navy

Final Score: VCU 74, Navy 52
Location: Siegel Center in Richmond 
Current Records: VCU 9-4, Navy 7-5

In a nutshell: In the first half Jalen DeLoach led the Rams to a seven-point lead with his 12-point effort. DeLoach finished the game with a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, to go along with six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Then Jamir Watkins erupted for 18 points, all in the second half. In total, Watkins hit 7-of-13 of his shots from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line. 

One key to this rather easy victory was that VCU gave up only nine turnovers. That was just the second game this season with single-digit turnovers.

NOTES (Info provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.)

• Early on, it looked like it would be smooth sailing for the Midshipmen, as Navy got out to a 11-0 run in the first 3:48 of the game. Then the Rams roared back with a 20-4 run over the course of 6:14, capped by back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore guard Jayden Nunn.
• Once again, Ace Baldwin Jr. did a good job of dishing the ball out to his teammates, leading the team with eight assists.
• Zeb Jackson, David Shriver, and Nick Kern added nine, eight, and seven points respectively to the Rams’ total. 
• After the Midshipmen put up the first five points of the second half to draw within two, the Rams went on a 10-0 run for 3:08. Shriver got the ball rolling with a three-pointer. Then Watkins and DeLoach combined for the next seven Rams points.
• VCU’s dominance inside was another important factor to its success, outscoring Navy in the paint 46-24. The home team also had a good night shooting the ball, connecting on 29-of-56 (52 percent) from the field compared to the visitors' 20-of-55 (36 percent).
• Bench points: Rams 27. Midshipmen 14.  
• Navy’s 52 points were the fewest scored by a VCU opponent this season. Tyler Nelson paced the Midshipmen effort with 17 points and eight rebounds.

BOX SCORE

UP NEXT

The Rams will begin their Atlantic 10 Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 31, when they will host the La Salle Explorers at 2 p.m. It will be broadcast on MASN and streamed on ESPN+.

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