Late surge lifts ASU over VCU

Final Score: Arizona State 63, VCU 59

Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Legends Classic)

Current Records: VCU 2-1, Arizona State 3-1

 

In a nutshell: For three-fourths of the fast-paced game VCU led and seemed to have the upper hand. With Jayden Nunn playing the point the Rams appeared to be managing to do without their star point guard, Ace Baldwin (broken bone in his right wrist). VCU led for 32:54 of the 40 minutes. 

Late in the game, Arizona State's guard, Frankie Collins, took over and the Rams had no answer. The Sun Devils closed out the contest on a 15-3 run to snatch victory away from the Rams. VCU connected on just 4-of-23 field goals in the second half. 

 

NOTES

·      In 36 minutes on the floor sophomore guard Jayden Nunn provided 13 points and five assists for VCU. Nunn connected on 5-of-10 and added four rebounds and a pair of steals.

·      In all, three Rams reached double figures, including redshirt sophomore guard Jamir Watkins and graduate forward Brandon Johns Jr., who supplied 10 each. Johns also corralled six rebounds.

·      Sophomore forward Jalen DeLoach also recorded nine points, eight rebounds and a block for VCU.

·     Arizona State's Frankie Collins led all players with 15 points. He also grabbed six rebounds and three steals.

·      The Sun Devils’ Desmond Cambridge Jr. hit a go-ahead floater in the lane with 1:08 left to give ASU a 61-59 lead. VCU got two looks at the basket on the ensuing possession, but missed on a 3-pointer and a floater. A pair of Horne free throws with 21 seconds left accounted the final margin.

·      The Rams shot 50 percent (14-of-28) in the first half and 17 percent in the second.

·      The Rams took a 52-41 lead with 8:58 remaining on a 3-pointer by senior forward David Shriver, but watched as Arizona State put together a 15-4 burst, punctuated by back-to-back 3-pointers by D.J. Horne and Austin Nunez, to tie the game at 56-all with 5:08 left.

·      Arizona State held a 28-22 advantage in points in the paint and a 10-5 edge in second-chance points.·      

·     On the upside, VCU connected on 17-of-18 free throws. On the downside, technical fouls on Watkins and DeLouche didn't help the Rams' cause. 

 

BOX SCORE

NEXT UP

VCU will face Pitt in the Legends Classic consolation round on Thursday (today) at 7 p.m. at the Barclays Center. That game will air nationally on ESPN2. 

-- Info provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.