The Basics

• Score: Wisconsin 74, VCU 73
• Records: VCU (2-2), Wisconsin (3-2)
• Location: Madison Square Garden – New York, N.Y.
• The Short Story: Senior Melvin Johnson posted his third straight 20-plus point outing and VCU's bench scored 39 points, but it wasn't enough as the Rams dropped a heartbreaker, 74-73, to national finalist Wisconsin in the consolation game of the 2k Classic benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project.

• Wisconsin came out hot, hitting its first five field goals to run out to a 13-4 advantage with 16:05 to play in the first half.
• The Badgers stretched their lead to 11, 22-11, before VCU ratcheted up the pressure forcing four turnovers in a four-minute span to spark a 8-2 run and get the Rams within 24-19 with 8:41 remaining in the stanza.
• VCU's bench took over from there, igniting a 32-15 run to end the first half and send the Black & Gold into the break with a 43-37 cushion. The reserves scored 27 of the team's 43 first-half points, led by 11 from Billbury.
• The teams would trade points to start the second half with the Rams aggressively attacking the rim and holding a 50-44 lead with 15:56 to play.
• Wisconsin woke up and went on an 11-1 run, capped off by a layup from Zak Showalter to give the Badgers a 55-51 lead with under 13 minutes remaining.
• After UW pushed their lead to six with under six minutes to play, a two-handed slam by Mo Alie-Cox capped off a 8-2 run that evened the score at 71-71 with just over two minutes left in the contest.
• The Badgers took the lead on a free-throw, but Johnson made a great move and banged home a pull-up jumper to give VCU a 72-71 lead with under 30 seconds left.
• However, Wisconsin Bronson Koenig hit a spinning, lefty layup with 6.2 seconds remaining for the eventual game-winner. Johnson drove up the floor and released a 3-pointer as time expired for VCU, but it was just off the mark.

• The 17 turnovers forced by the Rams is the most by a Wisconsin team since March 7, 2013 against Michigan State. A span of 86 games for the Badgers.
• It was the ninth 20-plus point performance for Johnson, but the first-ever time that he has done it in three consecutive games.
• The 39 bench points for the Black & Gold is the most since the reserves put up 56 in a win over Belmont on Dec. 16, 2014, a span of 32 games.

• The Rams return home on Wednesday, November 25 to take on former CAA foe American. Game time on CBS 6.3 is set for 7 p.m.