Location: Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis.
Current records: VCU 18-6, 9-2 in A-10. StL 15-8, 7-3 in A-10.
In a nutshell: This was a marquee match-up between the A-10's two top teams and both of them played like teams that ought to be in the postseason's Big Dance. The difference in the late going was just too much Ace Baldwin; VCU's junior point guard had a career night.
Baldwin played 38 minutes and scored 37 points. He also grabbed four rebounds, made two assists and two steals. Baldwin sank four of five attempts from beyond the arc and no other Ram connected on a single trey.
Make no mistake, VCU beat a good team tonight. On its home court. The Rams simply had the best player on the floor and he was playing his best game of the season (so far). That's what it took to beat a well-coached Billikens team, going all out to prevent its loss. This road victory should give Mike Rhoades' Rams team an upgraded sense of confidence.
NOTES: (Information provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D)
- Baldwin connected on 12-of-15 field goals, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. He also converted all nine of his free throw attempts.
- Forward Brandon Johns scored 15 points and got six rebounds for the Rams. In addition, forward Jalen DeLoach kicked in 13 points, 11 rebounds and three assists for his fourth double-double of the season for the Rams.
- VCU closed a back-and-forth first half with a 7-0 run, including a Baldwin 3-pointer with three second left, to take a 34-31 lead into the locker room. The game would eventually feature 11 ties and 16 lead changes.
- The two teams were separated by no more than three points during the second half until back-to-back Baldwin jumpers gave VCU a 61-56 lead with 5:00 remaining. Saint Louis’ Yuri Collins drove for a layup to cut the Rams lead back to three, but Baldwin answered with another jumper, and DeLoach hit a baby hook on consecutive VCU possessions to push VCU’s advantage to 65-58 with 2:05 left.
- VCU turned the Billikens over 14 times and outscored Saint Louis 17-11 off turnovers. The Rams also owned a 33-31 advantage on the glass.
- Gibson Jimerson led Saint Louis with 24 points. He went five-for-nine from three-point distance.
- With this win, VCU currently sits alone in first place in the A-10 at 9-2. Dayton, which visits the Siegel Center Tuesday, and Saint Louis are tied for second at 7-3.
- VCU has won five straight road games, including three consecutive A-10 ESPN Friday night showcase contests.
NEXT UP
- VCU will host Dayton at the Siegel Center on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. That contest will air on the CBS Sports Network.
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