VCU Coasts Past Manhattan in Opener

Final Score: VCU 73, Manhattan 56

Location: Siegel Center, Richmond, Va. 

Current Records: VCU 1-0. Manhattan 0-1

 
In a nutshell: VCU's smothering defense forced 27 Manhattan turnovers. Four VCU players scored in double figures as the Rams built an 18-point halftime lead and kept the visiting Jaspers at bay to start the 2022-23 campaign on a winning note.

 
OPENING TIP

• Junior point guard Ace Baldwin, Jr. led the way with 15 points, nine assists and three steals. 
• Graduate forward Brandon Johns Jr. and redshirt sophomore forward Jamir Watkins scored 13 
• points apiece. 
• With 10 points sophomore forward Jalen DeLoach was the other Ram in double figures. And, he was the top rebounder for VCU with nine boards.

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Rams picked the Jaspers’ pockets repeatedly with 16 steals.
• The Rams were tenacious in crashing the offensive glass, securing 11 offensive rebounds to Manhattan’s one. VCU outscored Manhattan 11-2 in second chance points.

NOTABLE

• This was the first meeting between the two schools.
• With the victory, the Rams are now 17-4 all-time against teams from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
• VCU has now won 17 straight season openers, going all the way back to 2006.

BOX SCORE: Here.

UP NEXT

VCU stays at home for their next game this Saturday, Nov. 12 when they play host to Morgan State. Tip-off is at 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on MASN and ESPN+. 

Note: Info provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.

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