VCU cruises in 21-point win over Merrimack

Final Score: VCU 63, Merrimack 42.
Location: Siegel Center in Richmond. 
Updated Records: VCU 3-0, Merrimack 1-1.

In a nutshell: During the first half VCU's relentless defense overwhelmed Merrimack; the Rams went into the locker room with a 38-to-17 lead over the Warriors. In the second half VCU 's grateful bench got a lot of minutes. 

To its credit, Merrimack never quit playing hard, but it simply couldn't match VCU's impressive athleticism. Once again, guards Joe Bamisile and Phillip Russell set the Rams' offensive pace; they combined for 38 points. That, while VCU's smothering, switching team defense held Merrimack to just 28 percent shooting from the field. 

So far, Bamisile has looked like a legit candidate to be named to somebody's All-American team. And, although smooth point guard Max Shulga hasn't been scoring at his familiar clip, he has been steady at the top of the key in the role of being the orchestra's conductor. 
  
Stats: Bamisile with 20 pts., 2 boards, 4 assists, 3 steals. Russell with 18 pts, 2 boards. Jennings with 5 points, 9 boards, 4 assists, 4 steals.

NOTES: (Information provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.)

• Russell knocked down 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in an 18-point effort. He also connected on 5-of-6 free throws. 
• The Rams’ defense held Merrimack to 12-of-43 shooting, including 1-of-19 from 3-point range. 
• VCU also forced a season-high 22 turnovers. The game was close early, but Bamisile scored eight points to lead VCU on an 18-2 run to close the half. 
• VCU owned a 38-30 rebounding edge and outscored the Warriors 24-14 in the paint.
• The Rams led the contest for 37 minutes and their bench outscored the Warriors' bench 14-1.
• Merrimack’s Adam Clark led the Warriors 19 points. He was pretty much their only real threat. 
• VCU is off to its first 3-0 start since the 2019-20 season. The Rams have won those three tilts by an average of 21.7 points.

BOX SCORE 

NEXT UP:

VCU will host Loyola (Md.) on Sat., Nov. 16. Tipoff at 7 p.m. at the Siegel Center. The game will air on MASN and ESPN+.