LAWAL’S CAREER HIGH NOT ENOUGH TO LIFT VCU

From Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.:

ESPN Events Invitational
Score: Boise State 65, VCU 61
Location: Lake Buena Visa, Fla. (State Farm Field House)
Records: VCU 3-3, Boise State 3-2

 

The short story: Senior guard Max Shulga and sophomore forward Tobi Lawal combined for 38 points and 17 rebounds for VCU, but the Rams dropped a back-and-forth affair to Boise State Friday night.

 

OPENING TIP

·      Shulga finished with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-19 shooting. He added eight rebounds and handed out three assists

·      Lawal recorded a career-high 14 points, connecting on 6-of-7 shots from the field. He also corralled nine rebounds and blocked a shot

·      Senior guard Zeb Jackson chipped in with eight points, six rebounds and three assists for VCU

·      Andrew Meadow led a balanced Boise State attack with 10 points, while Tyson Degenhard added 10

 

THE DIFFERENCE

·      Boise State led by as many as seven points in the second half on three occasions, the last following a three-point play by O’Mar Stanley with 5:21 remaining. The Rams got a driving layup by Shulga and a pair of free throws by Jackson on its next two possessions to close within 60-57 with 4:07 left, but could get no closer. Lawal pulled VCU within 64-61 on a dunk from Shulga with 49 seconds on the clock, but the Rams came up empty on their final two possessions as the Broncos hung on

·      Boise State connected on 17-of-21 free throws and turned 14 VCU turnovers into 15 points

·      VCU sprinted out to a 14-4 run in the opening minutes on the back of a 9-0 run, punctuated by a drive and two-handed slam by Jackson. But BSU battled back and took a 28-27 lead on a driving layup by Chibuzo Agbo at the 1:04 mark. VCU took a 29-28 lead into the locker room following a pair of free throws by redshirt freshman wing Fats Billups III

 

NOTABLE

·      This was the second all-time meeting between these two programs

·      VCU outscored the Broncos 30-28 in the paint

·      The Rams knocked down 13-of-15 free throws

 

NOTABLE

VCU will face Penn State and former Head Coach Mike Rhoades on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 10:30 a.m in the final day of the ESPN Events Invitational. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.