VCU tops Davidson in thriller

Final score: VCU 61, Davidson 59. 

Location: Belk Arena in Davidson (near Charlotte)

Current records: VCU 17-6, 8-2 in A-10. Davidson 10-12, 3-7 in A-10.

In a nutshell: Both the visitors and the home team put out noteworthy 40-minute efforts. In short, it was a thriller! 

The homestanding Wildcats led by nine points a couple of times in the first half, but the Rams cut the difference down to two points at halftime. In the second half it was pretty much a nip-and-tuck affair the whole way. 

With the score knotted at 58, VCU's junior point guard, Ace Baldwin, pulled up in the lane to hit a clutch 15-foot jumper with 15.8 seconds remaining that proved to be the difference in the end. Both teams then sank one foul shot to produce what would be the final score. 

Baldwin scored 14 points, to set the pace for VCU's attack; he pulled down five boards, dished for seven assists and made two steals. Sophomore forward Jalen DeLoach scored 12 points, grabbed nine boards and made two steals. Sophomore forward Jamir Watkins came off the bench for seven points, eight rebounds and three steals.   

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

• Out of a timeout, Baldwin drove left to right and canned a pull-up jumper from 15 feet, right of the free throw line, to give the Rams a 60-58 lead. Davidson missed the second of two free throws on its ensuing possession, and VCU redshirt sophomore Jamir Watkins grabbed the rebound and drew a foul with 3.5 seconds left. He connected on the front end of the one-and-one, and the Wildcats were only able to race up the floor for a half-court heave that fell well short as the final horn sounded.
• VCU closed the first period on a 7-0 run that trimmed the Davidson lead to 34-32 at the halftime break. 
• VCU forced 13 turnovers in the game and committed a season-low six. The Rams outscored the Wildcats 20-5 off turnovers.
• The Rams limited Davidson to 36 percent shooting (12-of-33) in the second half.
• The Rams did not hit a 3-pointer (0-of-9) in the entire contest. That's the first time it’s happened since Mar. 3, 2006, against William & Mary.
• Desmond Watson led Davidson with 12 points.
• With Tuesday's win, coupled with Saint Louis’ loss at Fordham, VCU's Rams moved back into a tie with the Billikens for first place in the A-10 Conference.

BOX SCORE

NEXT UP

• VCU will travel to Saint Louis on Fri, Feb. 3, for a showdown with the Billikens. The winner will take sole possession of first place in the A-10. That match-up will tip-off at 7 p.m. (EST). ESPN2 will broadcast the game live.

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