Rams top Owls with free throws

From:  Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.

Final Score: VCU 87, Temple 78.
Location: Siegel Center
Current Records: VCU 6-5, Temple 6-4

The Short Story: Senior guards Max Shulga and Zeb Jackson poured in 19 points apiece, and VCU built a big first-half lead on the way to a win Saturday over Temple. Senior guard Joe Bamisile, who made his VCU debut Saturday, scored 11 points off the bench for the Rams.

 
OPENING TIP

• Jackson converted 8-of-14 attempts from the field and added seven assists, six rebounds and four steals to lead the Black and Gold. Shulga also hauled in six rebounds and handed out five assists. He finished a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line.
• Bamisile connected on 3-of-8 three-point attempts in 19 minutes for VCU.
• Graduate forward Kuany Kuany provided 12 points also provided 12 points to the VCU cause. He knocked down 2-of-3 attempts from beyond the arc.
• Sam Hoffman led the Owls in with 17 points.

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU shot .613 (19-of-31) from the field in the first half, including 7-of-14 from 3-point range as the Rams built a 50-31 halftime lead. VCU led by as many as 23 points in the period.
• Bamisile hit back-to-back 3-pointers to kick off a 10-2 run that provided the Rams with a 20-9 lead at the 11:19 mark of the first half. A short time later, VCU embarked on a 12-0 blitz, sparked by a traditional three-point play by sophomore forward Christian Fermin, to take a commanding, 40-17 advantage.
• Temple was able to pull within 66-55 with 8:53 remaining in the second half, but Bamisile buried his third triple of the day moments later to kick off an 8-0 VCU run.
• VCU shot .508 (30-of-59) in the contest and connected on 18-of-21 free throws. 
• The Rams owned a 37-31 rebounding advantage and outscored Temple 42-32 in the paint.

NOTABLE

·      VCU led for 37:41 of the game.

·      The Rams evened the all-time series with Temple at 2-2. This was the first meeting between these two schools at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

·      Shulga finished a perfect 10-of-10 at the line for the second time this season.

 

NEXT UP

• VCU will return to action on Friday, Dec. 22, when they host Maryland-Eastern Shore at 7 p.m. That game will be broadcast on MASN and ESPN+.