Late rally boosts VCU over St. Bonaventure

Final Score: VCU 89, St. Bonaventure 82
Location: Siegel Center
Updated Records: VCU 10-4 (1-0 in A-10), St. Bonaventure 11-3 (0-1 in A-10)

In a nutshell: This well-played game was a close affair most of the way; with lead changes aplenty. Then the always tough Bonnies managed to build a seven-point lead 12 minutes into the second half. 

At that point the sellout crowd swelled up and inspired the Rams defense to clamp down and utterly dominate the game. St. Bonaventure went without a field goal for over six-and-a-half minutes during that game-deciding crucial stretch. 

And, in what was an eye-popping clutch performance, Brandon Jennings completely took over the Rams offense. As the clock wound down the sophomore guard became an unstoppable go-to guy. All of Jennings' career-high 20 points were scored in the second half. In the doing, he made good on 14 of his 15 free throw attempts.  

Some other noteworthy Rams stats: Lazar Djokovic scored 23 points, pulled down four rebounds and went five-for-five in free throws. Coming off the bench Terrence Hill scored 19 points and grabbed three rebounds. Barry Evans scored 10 points and dished for four assists. Hot-handed VCU shot 55 percent from the field. The Rams outscored the Bonnies, 48-38, in the paint.

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

●      Djokovic finished with 23 points, thanks to 9-of-12 shooting from the field, including three thunderous slam dunks. He added a career-high 38 minutes and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field in the second half.

●      Senior forward Barry Evans rounded out the VCU double-digit scorers with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. 

●      Frank Mitchell led all scorers with 24 points for the Bonnies.

●      The Rams converted 26-of-28 free throws (93 percent) in the contest and shot 55 percent (29-of-53) from the field. VCU connected on 13-of-14 baskets from inside the arc in the second half. 

●      Jennings’ 14 free throws tied the program record for a single game, held by four others and reached most recently by Treveon Graham against Richmond in 2015..

●      Djokovic’s 23 points is the most by a VCU player in a game this season, passing Hill who scored 22 points in a victory over Samford.

●      With the victory, VCU ties the all-time series with St. Bonaventure at 11 wins apiece.

 

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: On Saturday, January 3, VCU hits the road to Pittsburgh for an A-10 conference game with Duquesne. Tipoff at noon. TV: USA Network.

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