Location: Siegel Center.
Updated Records: VCU 10-3, William & Mary 5-7.
In a nutshell: In spite of how much of a mismatch it was expected to be (VCU was an 18.5-point favorite), there were a couple of fairly decent reasons to attend this game. In a ceremony conducted just prior to tipoff, VCU retired the No. 2 jersey of former defensive standout Briante Weber -- a fan favorite at VCU from 2011-15. Weber was a excellent thief; he made a whopping 374 steals in his career, which remains the VCU record. It also still stands as fourth in NCAA history. No Rams player was a more essential cog in the legendary "Havoc" scheme of defense then-head coach Shaka Smart famously used in that era.
Another pretty good reason for VCU fans to fill The Stu to its seating capacity was that it was the renewal of an old rivalry with William & Mary. This was the first matchup between the Rams and the Tribe since VCU left the Colonial Athletic Association in 2012 to become a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
No doubt, longtime Rams fans in attendance enjoyed the 20-point victory in a fast paced, one-sided contest in which VCU led for nearly thirty-four of its forty minutes. It appeared Sunday afternoon's visitors thought they could run with the Rams.
Well, as it happened, the visitors were wrong. Rivalry-wise, VCU now leads in the all-time series, 39-12.
Stats: Joe Bamisile scored 20 points. He made good on 9-for-15 from the floor. Jack Clark registered his first double-double of the season. He scored 11 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished for five assists. Other Rams who scored in double figures were Zeb Jackson (14), Max Shulga (13) and Michael Belle (10).
NOTES: (Information provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.)
● Gabe Doresy led William & Mary with 16 points.
● VCU put together a 10-2 run, capped by a Bamisile 3-pointer, as well as a 7-2 burst a short time later, to build a 68-48 lead with 11:29 left in the game.
● The Rams trailed 35-34 with 3:49 left in the first half, but used an 8-2 spurt, including a pair of Bamisile buckets, to take a 42-37 lead into the break.
● VCU committed a season-low seven turnovers and handed out a season-high 25 assists.
● VCU outscored William & Mary 58-28 in the paint and 21-3 off fast breaks.
● The Black and Gold scored 21 points off of 19 William & Mary turnovers. VCU’s 25 assists are its most since Nov. 13, 2017, when it dished out 26 against North Florida.
BOXSCORE
NEXT UP: VCU will begin kick its A-10 Conference play when it visits St. Bonaventure on Tues., Dec. 31. Tipoff at 2 p.m. That contest will air on ESPN+
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NOTES: (Information provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.)
● Gabe Doresy led William & Mary with 16 points.
● VCU put together a 10-2 run, capped by a Bamisile 3-pointer, as well as a 7-2 burst a short time later, to build a 68-48 lead with 11:29 left in the game.
● The Rams trailed 35-34 with 3:49 left in the first half, but used an 8-2 spurt, including a pair of Bamisile buckets, to take a 42-37 lead into the break.
● VCU committed a season-low seven turnovers and handed out a season-high 25 assists.
● VCU outscored William & Mary 58-28 in the paint and 21-3 off fast breaks.
● The Black and Gold scored 21 points off of 19 William & Mary turnovers. VCU’s 25 assists are its most since Nov. 13, 2017, when it dished out 26 against North Florida.
BOXSCORE
NEXT UP: VCU will begin kick its A-10 Conference play when it visits St. Bonaventure on Tues., Dec. 31. Tipoff at 2 p.m. That contest will air on ESPN+
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