Rams stifle Spiders

Final score: VCU 73, UR 58.

Location: Siegel Center in Richmond.

Current records: VCU 22-7, 13-3 in A-10. Richmond 14-15, 7-9 in A-10. 

In a nutshell: VCU used a five-minute, 12-0, run midway in the first half to establish a working margin. The Rams never looked back. From then on, VCU methodically took Richmond apart. Halfway through the second stanza VCU led by 24 points. 

Four Rams scored in double figures, led by Baldwin's 18 points. Watkins added 11. Both Kern and DeLoach scored 10 points. In all, nine of the 10 Rams who saw action in the game put numbers on the board. 

VCU won the turnover aspect of the contest, 11-to-seven, and the battle of the boards, 40-to-29. VCU's bench outscored Richmond's bench, 19-to-14. Other stats of interest to Rams fans were Watkins' nine rebounds that led both teams and Baldwin's eight assists that led both teams. 

With this Friday night victory, featured nationally on ESPN2, the surging Rams won the sixth of their last seven outings and they did nothing to hurt their chances to go dancing in mid-March. 

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

• Baldwin connected on 6-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range for the Rams. He added five rebounds, four steals and blocked two shots in an all-round effort. 
• VCU started slow, but DeLoach keyed a 12-0 burst VCU midway through the first half with a trio of baskets that supplied the Rams with a 25-17 lead with 5:51 remaining in the period. VCU would not trail again. 
• VCU’s lead would grow to as many as 24 points on back-to-back 3-pointers by Baldwin and Watkins, which pushed the score to 60-36 with 10:02 on the clock.
• Richmond was held to 4-of-22 shooting from long range.
• VCU completed a regular-season sweep of Richmond with Friday’s victory. The Rams lead the all-time series 59-32.
• The Rams maintained sole possession of first place in the A-10. 
• Neal Quinn provided a game-high 21 points for the Spiders.

BOX SCORE

NEXT UP

Only two games are left on the regular season schedule. The last home game will bring Saint Louis to the Siegel Center on Tues., Feb. 28, for a 7 p.m. tipoff. CBS Sports will broadcast the game. 

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