VCU clobbers Loyola Chicago

Final Score: VCU 84, Loyola Chicago 65.
Location: Chicago, Ill. 
Updated Records: VCU 11-4, 1-1 in A-10. Loyola Chicago 9-5, 0-1 in A-10.

 

In a nutshell: Three particular deciding factors imposed defeat on the Ramblers: Phil Russell's hot hand; the Rams' tenacious, smothering defense in the second half; VCU won the second stanza's battle of the boards in the by a 29-to-12 margin.

VCU stats: Phil Russell scored a game-high 25 points. He made good on 7 of his 11 attempts from the field, which included a key 5-for-8 from 3-point distance. Russell also snatched six rebounds and made two steals. Christian Fermin scored his season-high 14 points and grabbed four rebounds. Zeb Jackson contributed 11 points, including three critical second-half treys. Jack Clark chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds.

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

· Des Watson led the Ramblers with 20 points.

· VCU trailed 40-37 at the half, but held Loyola to 22 percent (6-of-27) shooting in the second half. The Ramblers were 3-of-14 from 3-point range after the break. 

· The Rams used 18 offensive rebounds to rack up a 30-5 advantage in second-chance points.

· VCU outrebounded Loyola 40-28, overall.

· VCU shot 49 percent (30-of-61) from the field in the game, including 38 percent (9-of-24) from beyond the arc.

· The Rams trailed by as many as five points, at 51-46, with 12:05 left. But Clark converted back-to-back buckets to give the Black and Gold a 54-52 advantage with 9:22 remaining. Jackson buried back-to-back 3-pointers a short time later to extend VCU’s edge to 60-54 at the 7:36 mark.

· VCU dropped the hammer with a 16-0 blitz – including nine points from Russell – to put the game out of reach at 78-59 with 2:05 showing.

· The Rams are 3-0 all-time against Loyola Chicago, including 2-0 at Gentile Arena.

· VCU outscored the Ramblers 40-22 in the paint.

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: On Wed., Jan. 8, VCU will return to the Siegel Center to host Fordham. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. TV on MASN and ESPN+.

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