Atlantic 10 Tournament Quarterfinals: VCU tops Duquesne

Final Score: (No 2) VCU 71,(No 7) Duquesne 66.
Location: Pittsburgh (PPG Paints Arena)
Updated Records: VCU 25-7, Duquesne 18-15. 

In a nutshell: First team A-10 All Star Terrence Hill scored a game-high 20 points. Michael Belle chipped in 14 points. Both Hill and Belle came off the bench, as VCU held off Duquesne. Hill also dished out a game-high six assists. Meanwhile, Belle grabbed seven rebounds and made two steals. 

VCU's other first team conference All Star, Lazar Djokovic, scored 13 points. And, VCU's Swiss Army Knife, Brandon Jennings, scored seven points, got five rebounds, made four steals and blocked three shots.

Duquesne was tough. The Rams survive and advance. 

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

·      VCU trailed 26-23 with 4:36 left in the first half, but ratcheted up its defense to spark a 16-3 blitz, punctuated by a long Hill 3-pointer with three seconds remaining, to take a 39-29 lead into halftime.

·      The Rams never trailed again, but the Dukes did manage to keep things interesting down the stretch. Duquesne pulled within 55-53 on a Jimmie Williams 3-pointer with 6:52 left. But Hill promptly responded with a triple from the right wing. Later, the Dukes trimmed VCU’s advantage to 66-64 on a Jimmie Williams layup with 37 seconds left. But Hill drew a foul and hit a free throw, and Belle grabbed a steal on Duquesne’s ensuing possession. Freshman guard Nyk Lewis knocked down a pair of free throws to help seal the win.

·      VCU shot 47 percent (23-of-49) from the field in the game, including 44 percent (7-of-16) from beyond the arc.

·      VCU received 34 points from its bench.

·      Hill has reached 20-plus points six times this season.

·      VCU improved to 11-4 all-time against Duquesne, including 2-0 this season.

BOXSCORE

  

NEXT UP: VCU will face Saint Joseph’s in Saturday’s semifinals. Tipoff  at 3:30 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network.

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