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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