Hill leads VCU over Loyola Chicago

Final Score: VCU 89, Loyola Chicago 75
Location: Siegel Center
Updated Records: VCU 16-6, 7-2 in A-10). LUC 5-18, 1-9 in A-10. 

In a nutshell: Lately, sophomore guard Terrence Hill, Jr. (6--3) has been playing more and more like a first-team conference all-star. Yet, routinely, VCU Head Coach Phil Martelli doesn't put Hill in the game for the opening tipoff and first three or four minutes of games. Yep, although Hill, from Portland Oregon, is the Rams leading scorer this season, he always comes off the bench. 

Nonetheless, Hill's 14.9 points per game average is good for 11th place among Atlantic 10 Conference scorers. That, while he has actually played significantly fewer minutes than any of the ten A-10 players ahead of him in the conference's points-scored list. 

By the way, Hill sinks an elite 40-some percent of the shots he launches from 3-point distance. However, he averages 2.7 assists per game, which is also tops for the Rams. So, when opponents put extra emphasis on defending Hill when he has the ball, well, he's pretty clever at finding the open man and sending him a useful pass. 

And statistically, against Loyola, Hill just enjoyed what may have been his best game of the season -- 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. Some other noteworthy VCU numbers were: Tyrell Ward tied his season-high with 15 points. Jadrian Tracey scored 14 points and grabbed three rebounds. It's also worth noting that Martelli consistently has Hill in the lineup during the last few minutes of close games. 

The Rams bench outscored Loyola’s bench, 51-15..The quality of Martelli's six, seventh, eighth and ninth men is his strong suit. 

At the 10:42 mark of the first half Loyola had a 15 point lead, 24-to-9. From that point on the Rams went on an 80-to-51 run. 

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

●      Hill knocked down 5-of-9 attempts from beyond the 3-point line, as well as 7-of-7 at the charity stripe.

●      The Ramblers burst out the gates with the first eight points in the game and held a 24-9 lead at the midpoint of the first half following a tip-in by Rubin.

●      Loyola led 35-21 with 6:25 remaining in the first half, but Hill and Ward scored nine points each to fuel a 25-11 VCU to send the teams into the break tied at 46-46.

●      Tracey knocked down a 3-pointer and senior forward Barry Evans recorded a pair of buckets as VCU kicked off the second half with a 13-6 burst that gave the Rams a 59-52 lead with 16:01 left. VCU would not trail again.

●      Loyola Chicago center Miles Rubin recorded his sixth double-double on the season with a career-high 21 points and 10 rebounds. 

●      VCU did not record an offensive rebound and were outrebounded 22-8 in the first half. However, the Rams flipped the script in the second half by adding 11 offensive boards and outrebounding Loyola Chicago 24-14.   

●      VCU knocked down 24-of-29 free throws in the contest.

●      Friday’s 15-point deficit is the largest the Rams have overcome to win a game this season.

●      Friday’s game was the fourth this season where the Rams scored 50+ bench points. On the season, VCU is averaging 37.7 bench points per game.

●      Hill’s 24 points were the most by a Ram this season.

●      Sophomore guard Brandon Jennings tied a career-high with four steals and stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, four rebounds, and three assists for VCU.

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: ON Tuesday, February. 3, VCU travels to Fordham. Tipoff at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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