Dayton upsets VCU at Siegel Center

Final Score: Dayton 79, VCU 76.
Location: Siegel Center
Updated Records: Dayton 22-9, 12-6 in A-10. VCU 25-6, 15-3 in A-10.

In a nutshell: The Flyers began the game aggressively; with a hot hand the visitors raced to an 11-point lead over the Rams (16-to-5). That, while VCU was misfiring from both short and long range. 

Although the stunned home team played hard and eventually closed the gap, it never completely recovered from the early injury to its confidence. It all ended with Dayton stiff-arming a spirited VCU last-minute comeback. 

Thus, with its defense allowing 51 second half points! VCU fumbled away the last game of the regular season. It was the Rams only loss this year on its home court. 

Stats: Joe Bamisile scored a team-high 18 points, all in the second half. He also snatched eight rebounds. Max Shulga scored 16 points and got nine rebounds. Zeb Jackson scored 16 points and added three boards. The Rams sank just 5-of-30 of their attempts from 3-point range; that while Dayton’s made good on 9-of-23. 

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

• VCU owned a 41-33 total rebound advantage over the Flyers, with a 19-11 advantage in offensive rebounds. The rebounding edge led to the Black and Gold notching 16 second-chance points compared to Dayton’s 11. 
• The Flyers started the contest on an 16-5 run before the Rams mounted a 17-7 run of their own to make it a 23-22 game with 3:12 remaining in the first half. 
• Bennet knocked down an and-one three-pointer and made the free throw with 1:39 remaining in the game to extend the Flyers’ lead to eight at 72-64 with 2:11 remaining. The Rams then rallied their own 14-7 run to bring the game within one with six seconds remaining.
• VCU had one final look at the final horn, but a contested 3-pointer did not fall.
• VCU saw its nine-game win streak snapped Friday. The Rams are 19-11 all-time against the Flyers.
• Graduate guard Phillip Russell missed the contest due to an ankle injury he sustained against Duquesne on Tuesday. 
• VCU has clinched a share the A-10 regular season crown, as well as the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming conference tournament. 

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: The Rams are the top seed in the upcoming A-10 tournament in D.C. It begins on Wednesday, March 12. VCU's first game is set for Friday, March 14. Tipoff at 11:30 a.m. TV: USA Network.

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