Box Score Final: VCU 94, Richmond 89 (OT)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Robins Center)
Records: VCU 13-5 (5-0 A-10), Richmond 10-7 (2-3 A-10)
The Short Story: Junior JeQuan Lewis poured in a career-high 29 points and Melvin Johnson hit four free throws – including a pair to give VCU the lead for good – in the waning moments as the Rams earned a 94-89 win at Richmond in overtime. VCU has won eight straight.
THE DIFFERENCE
- In a game that featured 20 lead changes and 11 ties, VCU moved ahead for a final time, at 90-89, on a pair of Melvin Johnson free throws with 2:05 left. Johnson later rebounded a missed jumper by Richmond's Terry Allen with 3.1 seconds remaining and VCU clinging to a one-point lead. Johnson was fouled and promptly hit both free throws to give VCU a 92-89 advantage.
- Richmond had one final chance, but Mo Alie-Cox intercepted Trey Davis' baseball pass at midcourt and streaked to the rim for a dunk as time expired.
- VCU knocked down all six of its free throw attempts in overtime, while Richmond missed four of its five at the line.
- Alie-Cox sent the game to overtime when he blocked a layup attempt by ShawnDre' Jones with five seconds left and the score tied at 84. VCU's Jonathan Williams raced to the other end with the ball, but narrowly missed a jumper at the buzzer.
- The Rams were helped in part by an administrative technical assessed to Richmond for six players on the floor with 1:37 remaining in regulation. Johnson hit the free throw to pull VCU within 81-80.
- A Justin Tillman dunk with 35 ticks left in regulation tied the game at 84-84.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Lewis hit 9-of-14 shots from the field and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. He also buried a long 3-pointer at the first half buzzer to send the Rams into the lockerroom with a 39-37 halftime lead.
- Senior Korey Billbury added 20 points and eight rebounds for VCU, while Johnson added 17 and six assists. Alie-Cox finished with 12 points, six rebounds and five blocks.
- The Rams shot .478 (33-of-69) from the floor, including .571 (16-of-28) in the second half. VCU also outrebounded Richmond 45-34.
- Jones led Richmond with 26 points and six assists, while T.J. Cline added 22, eight rebounds and six assists.
NOTABLES
- The Rams are 47-28 all-time against Richmond, including 15-16 at the Robins Center.
- Lewis is the fourth Ram to record a 20-point effort this season. It was the second straight game in which a Ram established a new career-high. Justin Tillman poured in a personal-best 27 points earlier in the week against Fordham.
- VCU has scored 80 or more points six times during its eight-game win streak.
WHAT'S NEXT
- VCU will return to the Siegel Center on Wednesday, Jan. 20, when it will face off with Duquesne at 7 p.m.
