VCU tops URI on Jackson's buzzer-beater

Final score: VCU 55, URI 54. 

Location: Ryan Center in Kingston, Rhode Island

Current records: VCU 19-7, 10-3 in A-10. URI 8-17, 4-9 in A-10.

In a nutshell: After sleepwalking through the first half, then trailing by 13 points with 11:44 remaining in the second half, VCU stole the game from Rhody with a furious late comeback. VCU led for only two minutes and twenty seconds of the game. 

Coming off the bench, Zeb Jackson played only 16 minutes. However, his 15-foot jump shot in the last second put VCU in the lead by one point when the final horn sounded. 

For the second consecutive game, VCU's star point guard, Ace Baldwin, had a frigid shooting hand; he went 0-for-10 from the field. Plus, VCU's best rebounder, Jalen DeLoach left the game in the first half with a leg injury. He was seen later on crutches. 

So it fell to forward Brandon Johns to take up the slack. Fortunately, Johns scored 17 points, grabbed five boards and dished for three assists. Nick Kern and Jackson both scored nine points. As lackluster as their effort was for most of the contest, VCU's Rams were lucky to escape with a victory. Very lucky.     

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

• Ishmael Leggett hit two free throws with 4.2 seconds left to give Rhody a 54-53 lead. On the ensuing inbound play, Jackson caught the ball in the backcourt and streaked up the right side of the floor before stopping and stepping back for the game winner from the right wing. 
• Jackson finished a pair of layups around the rim to kick off a 13-2 run that gave the Black and Gold a 48-47 lead with 3:37 remaining. In the waning moments, Watkins briefly pushed VCU to the brink of victory with a put-back with 21 seconds remaining. But Leggett drove to the rim on Rhody’s ensuing possession and drew a foul with 4.2 seconds left. 
• VCU shot 50 percent (13-of-26) from the field in the second half. The Black and Gold also forced 17 Rhode Island turnovers and turned them into 17 points.
• VCU won despite a 1-of-13 night from the 3-point line. VCU committed just 10 turnovers, its fourth straight game with 10 or fewer.

BOX SCORE

See Jackson's buzzer-beating jumper. 

NEXT UP

The VCU Rams (19-7, 10-3 in A-10) will host the Fordham Rams (21-5, 9-4 in A-10) in front of a sold out Siegel Center crowd on Sat., Feb. 18. Tipoff at 2:30 p.m. The game will be carried by the USA Network. 

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