Box Score Score: #23 Cincinnati 69, VCU 63
Location: Stuart C. Siegel Center
Records: Cincinnati 10-2, VCU 5-5
The Short Story: Senior Korey Billbury provided his best performance in a VCU uniform, scoring a game-high 22 points while grabbing nine rebounds, but 23rd-ranked Cincinnati held on for a 69-63 win in a back-and-forth affair.
THE DIFFERENCE
- The game featured five ties and four lead changes, but it was a 13-4 Cincinnati run – sparked by six points from Gary Clark - midway through the first half that gave the Bearcats a 57-47 lead with 5:23 left and ultimately proved to be the difference.
- VCU did not go quietly, pulling within 59-57 with 2:05 remaining on a drive and layup by junior guard JeQuan Lewis. A short time later, Billbury hit a three from the wing to pull the Rams within 64-61 with 32 seconds showing, but VCU could get no closer. Cincinnati hit 5-of-6 from the line in the game's final moments to secure the victory.
- VCU opened the second half with a 6-0 burst – a 3-pointer by sophomore Michael Gilmore and a traditional three-point play from redshirt junior Mo Alie-Cox – to grab a 37-33 advantage with 18:44 left to play. But back-to-back buckets by Midlothian, Virginia native Troy Caupain and Farad Cobb a short time later pushed the Bearcats back in front 38-37. The Bearcats assumed the lead for good at 40-39 on a pair of free throws by Octavius Ellis with 14:32 on the clock.
STATS AND OTHER NOTABLES
- Billbury, who was 6-of-19 from three entering Saturday's contest, hit 4-of-8 from long range in the contest to fuel the VCU offense. Billbury scored 13 of his points in the first half, and Cincinnati led 33-31 at the break.
- Lewis supplied 13 points and four assists for the Rams, while Alie-Cox collected 10 points, five rebounds (all offensive) and two blocked shots.
- Caupain and Farad Cobb led the Bearcats with 15 points apiece. Clark added 13 points and nine rebounds.
- Cincinnati won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Rams 42-37. VCU did grab 16 offensive boards and outscored the Bearcats in the paint 22-16.
- The Rams hit 7-of-19 from beyond the arc. They were 15-of-33 from that range in their win over Cincinnati last season.
- VCU committed just eight turnovers in the game, which tied a season-low.
- The Rams extended their school-record sellout streak to 71 games.
- VCU is now 4-2 all-time against foes ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 at the Siegel Center.
WHAT'S NEXT
- VCU, in the midst of a five-game homestand, will host reigning MAC Champion Buffalo on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Siegel Center.
