Rams shooting blanks as Billikens prevail, 78-to-69

Final Score: Saint Louis 78, VCU 69.

Location: Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis.

Updated Records: Saint Louis 13-8, 6-2 in A-10. VCU 16-5, 6-2 in A-10. 

In a nutshell: Your team just trounced a pesky conference rival that had beaten your team four straight times. By the way, the next opponent on your team's schedule is a home contest with its crosstown rival on Feb. 1. On top of those two somewhat distracting factors, your team entered Tuesday night's road game riding its own six-game winning streak, a streak that happened to include a convincing victory over the Saint Louis Billikens just two weeks ago.

Uh-oh, that all sounds like a tailormade formula for a "trap game." And it surely was for your team -- that is, if your team last night on Chaifetz Arena's floor was the cold-handed VCU Rams. 

This time against the revenge-minded Billikens, VCU shot a woeful 33 percent (22-of-67) from the field. From 3-point range it was worse -- ouch! -- just 16 percent (5-of-31)!  

Stats: Zeb Jackson and Phil Russell both scored 15 points, but it wasn't nearly enough to escape the jinx of a bona fide trap game. Max Shulga and Joe Bamisile added 14 and 11 points, respectfully. However, the Rams' rather porous defense allowed hot-handed Gibson Jimerson to lead all scorers with 26 points for the focused Billikens. 

OK, what can your team do about losing a trap game on the road to a pretty good team?

Move on. 

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

• Back-to-back buckets by Shulga and Russell in the final minute of the first half sent the Rams to the locker room with a 31-28 lead. 
• VCU was outrebounded 23-13 in the second half. 
• The Billikens made 39 trips to the free throw line and connected on 30. 
• VCU took a 51-49 lead with 9:02 left on a Jackson transition 3-pointer from the wing. But Saint Louis responded with a traditional three-point play by Jimerson on the next possession, followed by a 3-pointer by Isaiah Swope to assume a 55-51 advantage with 8:27 on the clock.
• The Billikens would not trail again, and would make 17-of-21 at the free throw line in the final four minutes to keep the Black and Gold at bay.  
•  The Rams collected 15 offensive rebounds and owned a 17-2 advantage in second-chance points. 
•  The Rams lead the all-time series with the Billikens 16-to-6. 

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: VCU will face its most significant rival, Richmond, on Sat., Feb. 1, at 4 p.m., at the Siegel Center. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Rams second half avalanche crushes Bonnies

Final Score: VCU 75, St. Bonaventure 61.
Location: Siegel Center.
Updated Records: VCU 16-4, 6-1 in A-10. St. Bonaventure 15-6, 3-5 in A-10.

In a nutshell: After stumbling and bumbling its way through the first half, VCU rambled and scrambled to drop 50 points on gobsmacked St. Bonaventure in the second half. A raucous Friday night sellout (7,637) gathering at The Stu ate it up. In extending their streak of consecutive victories to six, the Rams also snapped a four-game losing streak to the Bonnies. 

Rams stats: Bamisile scored 18 points, all in the second half. He made good on  seven of his 12 attempts from the field and two-for-four from beyond the arc; he added six rebounds and six assists to his stat line. Phil Russell scored 16 points, sinking five of his 11 attempts from the field, which included four-for-seven from 3-point range. Max Shulga scored 13 points. Jack Clark scored 12 points. And, Zeb Jackson contributed seven points and nine rebounds.

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

● VCU responded to an eight-point halftime deficit with a 12-2 run to open the second, capped off by a Bamisile layup to tie the game at 35-35 and force a Bona timeout with 16:17 left in the second half.
● The Rams pieced together another 11-2 run shortly afterwards to take a 48-43 lead with 10:58 left in the second half. VCU would not trail again.
● VCU forced 16 St. Bonaventure turnovers and outscored the Bonnies 17-4 off miscues.
● The Black and Gold used many of those turnovers to spark runouts, and outscored Bona 22-5 on the fast break.
● VCU shot 45 percent (26-of-58) from the field, including 46 percent (11-of-24) from 3-point range.
● The Rams fell behind quickly in the first half as the Bonnies started the game with a 7-2 run over the first four minutes. VCU took its first lead of the game at 16-15 with 9:27 left in the first following an 8-0 run. But the Bonnies immediately answered with a 7-0 counterpunch. St. Bonaventure would take a 33-25 lead into the locker room.
● VCU’s rally from a 10-point deficit, at 35-25, was the largest lead its overcome to win a game this season.
● Chance Moore would lead all scorers with 21 points for the Bonnies.
● The Rams’ bench outscored St. Bonaventure’s 15-0.

BOXSCORE
 
NEXT UP: VCU will face Saint Louis on the road on Tue., Jan. 28. Tipoff at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

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VCU trounces URI on Rhody's floor!

Final Score: VCU 81, Rhode Island 57.
Location: Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I.
Updated Records: VCU 15-4, 5-1 in A-10. Rhode Island 14-5, 3-4 in A-10.

 

In a nutshell: In winning it fifth consecutive tilt, VCU probably played its most complete game of the season. That convincing victory came on the road facing a tough team with a then-14-4 record. VCU head coach Ryan Odom's Rams appeared to be a well-coached, confident outfit. 

Now, with over half of the season in the rearview mirror, two particular questions are looming: with the players' roles pretty much set, how many more such "complete games" at both ends of the floor can the Rams play? Moreover, has Odom's surging VCU team peaked, or can it get even better? (Hint: take a look at freshman Luke Bamgboye's statistic line below.)   

Ram stats: Joe Bamisile scored a game-high 24 points. He converted 10-of-18 attempts from the floor. And, he grabbed three rebounds. Max Shulga scored 15 points, got three boards and a block. Jack Clark scored 12 points. Zeb Jackson added his 11 points. And, Bamgboye scored six points, snatched nine rebounds, made four steals and blocked three shots. 

The game's best stat: VCU's defense forced 27 turnovers. So far, that's the most by any A-10 team this season. 

By the way, did I mention the surging VCU Rams have won five straight games? 

 

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

· VCU held Rhody to 39 percent (19-of-49) shooting in the game, including 30 percent (7-of-30) in the second half.

· The Black and Gold’s lead was 42-40 with 13:38 remaining, but VCU outscored Rhode Island 39-17 the rest of the way. Shulga buried a 3-pointer and Bamisile connected on back-to-back floaters in the lane to help push VCU’s advantage to 55-43 with 10:35 left. A short time later, a Shulga traditional three-point play helped ignite a 15-0 VCU run that pushed the margin into blowout territory at 71-48 with 5:11 on the clock.

· VCU built an 18-point first-half lead, but watched as Thomas fueled a 19-2 Rhode Island run that closed the host Rams to within 35-34 with 1:44 remaining in the half. But VCU steadied the ship with a pair of Bamisile free throws and an authoritative drive and slam dunk by Jackson on the last play of the period to take a 40-34 lead into the break.

· VCU redshirt sophomore forward Obi Okafor scored his first collegiate points on a pair of free throws with 51 seconds left.

· Sebastian Thomas led Rhode Island with 19 points.

· VCU has won five straight against Rhode Island and leads the all-time series 12-11.

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: VCU will host St. Bonaventure on Fri., Jan. 24. Tipoff for this payback game is at 9 p.m. 

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Philly slugfest: VCU prevails over Saint Joe's

Final Score: VCU 78, Saint Joseph’s 69.
Location: Hagan Arena in Philadelphia.
Updated Records: VCU 14-4 (4-1 in A-10). Saint Joseph’s 11-7, 2-3 in A-10.

 

In a nutshell: To say the refs let 'em play in this slugfest is an understatement. Yes, the zebras allowed a lot of contact at both ends of the floor.

This was a tough road assignment the Rams could easily have lost. The steady improvement in confidence Coach Ryan Odom's team has shown in its four-game winning streak helped a lot to stiff-arm the Hawks' late rally.  

Philadelphia-native Jack Clark scored 18 points. He hit 5-of-8 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-4 treys. Plus he snatched seven rebounds. Phillip Russell scored 16 points, making good on 7-of-10 attempts from the field, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range. 

Max Shulga added 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds and made three assists. Zeb Jackson scored 14 points and pulled down seven boards. Joe Bamisile added 11 points.

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

· The Hawks tied the game at 60-60 on a Derek Simpson 3-pointer with 6:21 on the clock. But Clark drilled threes on back-to-back VCU possessions – the second coming off a Shulga offensive rebound – to give the Rams a 66-60 advantage with 4:53 remaining. The Rams would not trail again, and would expand their lead to 74-64 with 54 seconds left on a pair of Jackson free throws.

· The Rams shot 46 percent (10-of-22) from beyond the arc, while limiting Saint Joseph’s to 22 percent (8-of-36) shooting from deep.

· The Black and Gold held the Hawks to 33 percent (24-of-72) shooting on the evening.

· Brown scored seven points to spark a 10-0 Saint Joseph’s run in the first half that erased a 30-20 VCU lead. But the Rams answered with an 8-2 burst, including a drive and score by Jackson, to take a 38-32 lead into the locker room.

· VCU built its lead to 11, at 52-41 on a pull-up 3-pointer by Russell with 12:59 remaining, but the Hawks did not go quietly. Xzayvier Brown led all players with 22 points for Saint Joseph’s.

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: On the road, again, VCU will face Rhode Island on Tue., Jan. 21. Tipoff at 7 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network.

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Bamisile's hot shooting hand burns Billikens

Final Score: VCU 78, Saint Louis 62.
Location: Siegel Center.
Updated Records: VCU 13-4, 3-1 in A-10. Saint Louis 10-7, 3-1 in A-10. 

In a nutshell: There isn't all that much Rams opponents can do when Joe Bamisile is in the midst of one of his hot streaks. For instance: on his way to a 17-point first half performance, the Billikens chased him around the floor trying to guard him. Petty much, all they got for their effort was an up close view of his spectacular athleticism with dunks and 3-pointers. Not to mention his nifty lefthanded moves in the paint. Bamisile, who led all scorers, finished with 23 points, sinking 8-of-17 from the field.

More Rams stats: Jack Clark scored 12 points, making good on 5-for-9 of his shots. Max Shulga dished for nine assists on top of the 11 points he scored. Brandon Jennings hit a pair of 3-pointers on his way to scoring 10 points. Jennings also grabbed a team-high six rebounds. A sellout crowd (7,637) watched the Rams win the battle of the boards, 38-to-26.

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

   

· VCU outrebounded Saint Louis 22-4 on the offensive glass. The Rams outscored the Billikens 19-7 in second-chance opportunities.

· The Black and Gold also forced the Billikens into a season-high 19 turnovers and scored 27 points off those miscues.

· VCU held Saint Louis to 32 percent (6-of-19) shooting and a season-low 20 in the second half. The Billikens misfired on eight of nine second-half 3-point attempts.

· The Rams held guard Gibson Jimerson, the Atlantic 10 Conference’s leading scorer, to 11 points on 2-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Jimerson is also the A-10’s all-time leader 3-pointers.

· The Black and Gold outscored the Billikens 38-16 in the paint. 

· VCU went on a 10-0 run from over a three-minute stretch midway through the second half that consisted of two Jennings made 3-pointers and a Bamisile breakaway dunk to expand its lead to 66-51.

· The Rams forced Saint Louis guard Isaiah Swope into a season-high eight turnovers Swope came into the contest only averaging 2.5 turnovers per game.

· The Rams owned a 26-2 advantage in bench scoring, with guard Michael Belle contributing with six points and forward Christian Fermin notching eight.

· The Rams led for 38:18 of the contest.

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: VCU will face Saint Joseph’s on Fri., Jan. 17, in Philadelphia. Tipoff at 7 p.m. TV: ESPNU.

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Second half burst boosts VCU past Fordham

Final Score: VCU 73, Fordham 61.
Location: Siegel Center.
Updated Records: VCU 12-4, 2-1 in A-10. Fordham 8-8, 0-3 in A-10.

In a nutshell: Following the halftime break VCU went on an 8-to-0 run that established a nine-point working margin. That run boosted the homestanding Rams to what ended up being a 49-point avalanche in the second half. That scoring outburst followed what had been a lackluster first half performance that had led to a mere one-point advantage (24-to-23) for the homestanding Rams. 

Missing from this victorious scenario at the Siegel Center were spectators. Due to what was an ongoing running water shutdown ordeal in the City of Richmond, this Atlantic 10 Conference game was played without a crowd of witnesses in the stands. 

Rams key stats: Joe Bamisile scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field. Bamisile also grabbed six offensive rebounds. Max Shulga scored 16 points, snatched six boards and dished for four assists. 

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

· VCU recorded a season-high 23 offensive rebounds, leading to 25 second-chance points, compared to Fordham’s 13. The Black and Gold outrebounded Fordham 49-33 overall in the contest. 
· VCU started the second half on an 8-0 over the first 1:43, bookended by buckets from graduate forward Jack Clark, to extend its lead to 32-23 out of the break.
· Redshirt sophomore guard Fats Billups’ short turnaround jumper in the lane with 7:04 remaining in the second half pushed VCU to a 16-point lead, its largest of the night.
· Freshman forward Luke Bamgboye notched three blocks Wednesday. His 35 blocks this season are the most by a VCU freshman since Mo Alie-Cox registered 48 during the 2013-14 season. Bamgboye added eight points and seven rebounds.

· Fordham was led by guard Japhet Medor, who scored 19 points.
· VCU improved to 15-1 all-time against Fordham. 

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: VCU will hosts Saint Louis on Tues., Jan. 14 at the Siegel Center. Tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. It will stream on MASN, CBS6 and ESPN+.

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VCU clobbers Loyola Chicago

Final Score: VCU 84, Loyola Chicago 65.
Location: Chicago, Ill. 
Updated Records: VCU 11-4, 1-1 in A-10. Loyola Chicago 9-5, 0-1 in A-10.

 

In a nutshell: Three particular deciding factors imposed defeat on the Ramblers: Phil Russell's hot hand; the Rams' tenacious, smothering defense in the second half; VCU won the second stanza's battle of the boards in the by a 29-to-12 margin.

VCU stats: Phil Russell scored a game-high 25 points. He made good on 7 of his 11 attempts from the field, which included a key 5-for-8 from 3-point distance. Russell also snatched six rebounds and made two steals. Christian Fermin scored his season-high 14 points and grabbed four rebounds. Zeb Jackson contributed 11 points, including three critical second-half treys. Jack Clark chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds.

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

· Des Watson led the Ramblers with 20 points.

· VCU trailed 40-37 at the half, but held Loyola to 22 percent (6-of-27) shooting in the second half. The Ramblers were 3-of-14 from 3-point range after the break. 

· The Rams used 18 offensive rebounds to rack up a 30-5 advantage in second-chance points.

· VCU outrebounded Loyola 40-28, overall.

· VCU shot 49 percent (30-of-61) from the field in the game, including 38 percent (9-of-24) from beyond the arc.

· The Rams trailed by as many as five points, at 51-46, with 12:05 left. But Clark converted back-to-back buckets to give the Black and Gold a 54-52 advantage with 9:22 remaining. Jackson buried back-to-back 3-pointers a short time later to extend VCU’s edge to 60-54 at the 7:36 mark.

· VCU dropped the hammer with a 16-0 blitz – including nine points from Russell – to put the game out of reach at 78-59 with 2:05 showing.

· The Rams are 3-0 all-time against Loyola Chicago, including 2-0 at Gentile Arena.

· VCU outscored the Ramblers 40-22 in the paint.

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: On Wed., Jan. 8, VCU will return to the Siegel Center to host Fordham. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. TV on MASN and ESPN+.

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Bonnies edge Rams, 77-to-75

Final Score: St. Bonaventure 77, VCU 75.
Location: St. Bonaventure.
Updated Records: St. Bonaventure 13-1 (1-0 in A-10). VCU 10-4 (0-1 in A-10).

 

In a nutshell: At the 17.7-second mark on the clock, VCU's Phillip Russell sank a nifty eight-foot floater to tie the game at 75 apiece. In spite of Russell's season-high 26 points, St. Bonaventure's Melvin Council's driving runner dropped through the rim with 3.3 seconds left in the contest, to provide the winning margin for the Bonnies. It was the 16th and final lead-change in a back and forth tilt that had 10 tie scores.

VCU stats: Russell connected on 10-of-16 shots from the field, including 6-of-12 from 3-point distance. Joe Bamisile contributed 13 points and eight boards. Max Shulga scored 11 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished for four assists.

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

· Christian Fermin and Zeb Jackson both added six points coming off the bench for the Rams.

· Noel Brown and Council sparked St. Bonaventure' offense with 20 points each.

· Following a timeout, Council drove to the right side of the lane and scooped a ball around two defenders for a bucket and the lead. The Rams were unable to connect on a long 3-pointer at the buzzer.

· The Bonnies shot 50 percent (29-of-58) from the field in the game and outscored the Rams 48-32 in the paint.

· St. Bonaventure was able to turn 11 VCU turnovers into 11 points, and the Bonnies used 11 offensive rebounds to cash in 15 second-chance points.

· Bona led 70-67, but Russell tied the game at the 3:20 mark with his sixth 3-pointer of the day. Lajae Jones briefly gave the Bonnies a 72-70 advantage with a tip-in, but Bamisile buried a 3-pointer with 1:50 showing to push the Rams in front 73-72. Bona regained the lead on the ensuing possession, when Council rebounded his own miss for a layup.

· VCU outrebounded St. Bonaventure 33-30 and scooped up 11 offensive rebounds of its own.

· The Rams shot 48 percent (28-of-58) from the field in the contest, including 11-of-31 (36 percent) from beyond the arc.

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: On Sat., Jan. 4, VCU will travel to the Windy City for its second A-10 conference game of the season to face Loyola Chicago. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. (EST). The national telecast will be carried by the CBS Sports Network.


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