MARCUS EVANS FROM THREE!

The deep ball gives @VCU_Hoops the slightest of leads as this game comes in for a landing. pic.twitter.com/Qkq61sMfco

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) January 17, 2019

Score: VCU 76, Dayton 71
Location: Richmond, Va. (E.J. Wade Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 12-5 (3-1 Atlantic 10), Dayton 11-6 (3-1)
Attendance: 7,637 (127^th consecutive sellout)

The short story: Redshirt junior guard Marcus Evans scored VCU's final seven points, including a go-ahead three-pointer with 33 seconds remaining, to lead VCU past Dayton in a pivotal Atlantic 10 contest Wednesday night.

OPENING TIP

• Evans supplied 17 points, four rebounds and two assists and zero turnovers in 29 minutes of action for the Rams
• VCU junior guard De'Riante Jenkins added 13 points in addition to a team-high seven rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes. He was 5-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range
• Redshirt forward Issac Vann played an all-around game for the Black and Gold, contributing nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals
• Guard Jordan Davis led the way for Dayton, supplying 17 points, two assists and two rebounds in 36 minutes

THE DIFFERENCE

• Evans provided the game's 12^th and final lead change when he elevated over a Dayton defender at the top of the 3-point line and connected to give the Rams a 72-69 lead with 33 seconds on the clock. VCU's defense produced back-to-back stops in the waning moments, and Evans knocked down four straight free throws to put the victory on ice
• Evans supplied a steal and score on the first play of the game, and Jenkins splashed his first 3-pointer moments later to stake the Rams to a 7-1 advantage in the opening minutes
• With the score sitting at 16-15 VCU with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half, freshman guard P.J. Byrd's ignited an 11-3 VCU run with a 3-pointer from the wing
• VCU led 37-36 at the break
• The Rams shot .458 (27-of-59) from the field led by as many as 11
• VCU outrebounded Dayton 39-32
• VCU turned 12 Dayton turnovers into 11 points and scored 30 points in the paint in Wednesday's win

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Wednesday's game featured 11 ties and 12 lead changes
• The Rams committed just nine turnovers Wednesday
• The Rams knocked down nine 3-pointers on 9-of-19 shooting compared to 4-of-16 shooting for Dayton
• The Rams held a 20-9 advantage in bench points
• VCU led for 20:20 compared to 10:47 for Dayton

UP NEXT
VCU continues conference play on Jan. 19, at 6:30 p.m. when they host UMass at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. NBC Sports Network will broadcast that contest.