Thursday, December 19, 2024

Dent drops 40 points on Rams as Lobos prevail

Final Score:
New Mexico 78, VCU 71.
Location: The Pit in Albuquerque.
Updated Records: VCU 9-3, New Mexico 9-3.


In a nutshell: Too much Donovan Dent. Period.

It has been over 20 years since an opposing player scored 40 or more points on the Rams. The Lobos' superstar guard made good on 14-of-26 shots, while shooting from an array of locations with a variety of shots. Dent was simply unstoppable. 

VCU's shambling semblance of a defense watched it happen. More than enough said.


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


·      Max Shulga was held scoreless in the first half. Then, after the break, he connected on 6-of-9 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-6 from the 3-point line, on the way to a team-high 20 points. He added two steals.

·      Graduate guards Phillip Russell (13 points), Joe Bamisile (12) and Zeb Jackson (10) all reached double figures for the Black and Gold.

·      Sophomore forward Michael Belle also kicked in six points and five rebounds for the Rams.

·      New Mexico pieced together an extended 20-6 run, punctuated by eight straight points from Dent, to take its largest lead of the game at 51-36 with 15:43 remaining.

·      Back-to-back threes by Jackson kicked off a 16-5 VCU run over the next four minutes to cut the Lobo lead to 56-52 with 11:54 on the clock. But Dent came to New Mexico’s rescue again, scoring seven points during a 9-3 burst that extended the margin to 73-61 with 4:49 left.

·      The Lobos outrebounded VCU 47-33, including 16-7 on the offensive glass. New Mexico owned a 16-8 advantage in second-chance points.

·      New Mexico outscored the Rams 44-26 in the paint.

·      VCU converted just 13-of-24 free throws and shot 5-of-20 from 3-point range in the second half. 


BOXSCORE

 

NEXT UP: VCU will face William & Mary on Sun., Dec. 22 at home. Tipoff at 2 p. m. TV on MASN and ESPN+. A pregame ceremony to retire the No. 2 jersey of Rams star Briante Weber will take place.


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