Rams Defense Tames Wildcats: VCU Advances to A-10 Final

Atlantic 10 Conference Semifinals

 

Final score: #2 VCU 64, #3 Davidson 52

Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)

Up-to-date Records: VCU 19-6, Davidson 13-8

 

The Short Story: In a hard-fought Atlantic 10 Conference Semifinal game VCU conjured up a balanced scoring attack and a smothering defense; it was too much for Davidson, the Wildcats couldn't match it. Second-seeded VCU's win sets up a clash with top-seeded St. Bonaventure in the A-10 Championship Game on Sun., Mar. 14 at 1 p.m. The game will be played in Dayton. (TV: CBS).

 

OPENING TIP

• Defense ruled, as VCU sophomore forward Hason Ward led the Rams with four blocks, as the Rams held the Wildcats to just 30 percent (17-for-57) shooting in the game. 
• For the second game in a row, Bones Hyland led the Rams in scoring, this time with 12 points. The sophomore guard also dished for four assists, and grabbed five rebounds. 
• VCU freshman guard Ace Baldwin had seven assists to go with his seven points and four boards. 
• Davidson’s Hyunjung Lee and Kellan Grady each put up 13 points to lead all scorers. 

THE DIFFERENCE

• Both teams struggled to score in the first half. VCU shot 31 percent (9-of-29) while the Wildcats shot just 17 percent (5-of-30) from the field. 
•  Freshman guard Jamir Watkins provided a spark for the Rams off the bench, pouring in 10 points, two assists and five rebounds. VCU benefited from 25 bench points compared to Davidson’s 10. Senior forward Corey Douglas connected on all five of his field-goal attempts on the way to 10 points and five rebounds for VCU. The Rams bench scored 25 points compared to their opponent's 10.
• With seven seconds left in the opening period Hyland swiped the ball from Davidson’s Grant Huffman and Baldwin converted on a fast break layup that sent the Rams into the break with a 24-17 advantage.
•  In the second half, Watkins and Douglas provided the lift that VCU needed following their early struggles from the field. They combined for 18 points off the bench in a second half that featured VCU shooting 64 percent (17-of-36) from the field. 
• Box score.
  

NOTEABLE

• VCU now advances to its sixth A-10 Championship Game (of eight possible) since it joined the league in 2012. 
• For the second time this season VCU held an opponent to shooting 30 percent from the field or lower (North Carolina A&T, 12/09/20). 
• Davidson scored 99 points and shot 59 percent from the field Friday night in its quarterfinal game against George Mason, but the Wildcats had no such luck Saturday.
• St. Bonaventure and VCU split their two games during the regular season; both won their home games.
  

-- Game notes supplied by Chris Kowalczyk, Assistant A.D.