Location: Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
Updated Records: Utah 22-14, VCU 24-14.
In a nutshell: VCU's march through the 2024 NIT bracket halted in Salt Lake City. The quarterfinal game opened with an 18-to-2 run by the Utes. The Rams fought back and briefly closed the gap to three points, but Utah led 36-26 at halftime.
After the break, as the Rams fell further and further behind, it became abundantly clear that it just wasn't VCU's night. Moreover, the Utes were just too good.
From the VCU scorebook: Bairstow led VCU's scoring with 13 points and added four boards. Fermin contributed eight points and nine rebounds. Shulga, Jackson and Billups each scored six points.
From the VCU scorebook: Bairstow led VCU's scoring with 13 points and added four boards. Fermin contributed eight points and nine rebounds. Shulga, Jackson and Billups each scored six points.
Read 'em and weep: VCU made good on just 33 percent of its shots from the field; Utah shot 44 percent. The Rams sank 19 percent (five of 26) of its 3-point attempts; the Utes hit 39 percent (13 of 33) of theirs. VCU lost the battle of the boards, 43-to-35. Utah dished for 21 assists; VCU recorded eight assists.
This one-sided game really wasn't as close as the final score might indicate. If Utah can bottle their performance and pour it out in the NIT's semifinal and final games, the Runnin' Utes will be hard to beat.
NOTES (Information provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.)
- VCU fell behind 18-2 in the game, but whittled the Utah lead to 23-20 on a free throw by Zeb Jackson with 5:57 left in the first half.
- Then Madsen and Carlson buried back-to-back 3-pointers off VCU turnovers to push the Utah lead back to nine.
- After the halftime break the Utes removed all doubt with an 11-0 run, sparked by two Madsen treys, to take a 47-28 lead with 16:13 left in the game.
- Utah owned a 43-35 rebounding advantage and scored 20 points off 13 VCU turnovers.
- Smith recorded a triple double with 15 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds to lead Utah. Madsen buried 6-of-12 from beyond the 3-point arc and added 18 points to for the Utes.
- Behind first-year Head Coach Ryan Odom, the Rams, led by eight newcomers, recorded the program’s 24th consecutive winning season.
BOXSCORE
NEXT UP: The 2024/25 season. Hopefully, Odom returns for a second year at VCU. It will be interesting to see how his recruiting goes with a whole offseason in which to do it.
NEXT UP: The 2024/25 season. Hopefully, Odom returns for a second year at VCU. It will be interesting to see how his recruiting goes with a whole offseason in which to do it.
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