Location: Siegel Center in Richmond.
Current records: VCU 23-7, 14-3 in A-10. Saint Louis 19-11, 11-6 in A-10.
In a nutshell: The whole game was played at a frenetic pace at both ends of the court. Neither team backed off. The first half ended with Saint Louis ahead, 35-to-31.
In the second half the Rams trapping defense gradually smothered the Billikens offense. VCU forced 20 turnovers, while the Rams turned it over 12 times. The Rams made 14 steals, the Billikens made four.
VCU had six players score in double figures: DeLoach 14; Baldwin, Nunn and Kern 12; Johns 11; Watkins 10. The Rams bench outscored the Billikens bench 18-to-11. Points in the paint: VCU 52, Saint Louis 36. The Rams won the battle of the boards, narrowly; 38-to-37. However, the visitors did sink seven treys, while the home team only hit two.
Tonight, VCU beat a good team to win its fifth consecutive game. If VCU had a MVP for the game, it was probably Nick Kern. He hit six of seven shots, grabbed four rebounds and played outstanding defense in 17 intense minutes on the floor.
NOTES (Information provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.)
- Deloach connected on 6-of-11 attempts from the field. He also grabbed five rebounds, three steals and blocked a pair of shots.
- VCU shot 48 percent (29-of-60) from the field for the game; the Rams shot 62 percent (16-of-26) in the second half.
- Saint Louis brought the game within three points with just over four minutes to go but back-to-back buckets by Kern would put the game out of reach.
- VCU maintained the lead for most of the first half but Saint Louis held the Rams scoreless for more than five minutes during a 7-0 run that gave the Billikens a 35-31 halftime lead.
- VCU is 8-0 all-time at the Siegel Center against Saint Louis, and the Rams lead the overall series 13-5.
NEXT UP
On Saturday, March 4, VCU will travel to D.C. to play George Washington. Tipoff at 4:30 p.m. (TV: USA Network). That will finish off the regular season.
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