Box Score Score: VCU 93, Duquesne 71
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 14-5 (6-0 A-10), Duquesne 12-7 (2-4 A-10)
Attendance: 7,637 (77th consecutive sellout)
The Short Story: Five players scored in double figures and VCU shot 53 percent (32-of-61) from the field on the way to its ninth straight victory Wednesday night at the Siegel Center.
THE DIFFERENCE
- Junior guard Doug Brooks broke out of a shooting slump to knock down 3-of-5 three-pointers and score a career-high 16 points. Brooks also sparked VCU with five steals and four assists.
- VCU used an 11-0 run, fueled by a Melvin Johnson 3-pointer and a Mo Alie-Cox dunk, to rush to a 32-20 advantage with 4:55 left in the first half. VCU took a 44-31 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.
- Duquesne opened the half with a Micah Mason 3-pointer and an Eric James layup to pull within 44-36. But a short time later, Brooks led a 10-0 burst with bookend 3-pointers to give VCU a 57-39 lead. The Rams never looked back and would lead by as many as 26 points.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- In addition to Brooks, Mo Alie-Cox (16), Justin Tillman (15), Johnson (13) and JeQuan Lewis (11) reached double-figures for the Rams. It's the first time VCU has recorded five double-figure scorers in the same game since Feb. 16, 2015 against George Washington.
- The Rams hit 10-of-17 three-pointers in the game, won the glass by a 37-32 margin and forced 18 turnovers.
- Lewis handed out eight assists and turned the ball over just once. Alie-Cox blocked four shots.
- L.G. Gill led Duquesne with 18 points.
NOTABLE
- VCU knocked down 19-of-21 free throws in the contest.
- The Rams moved to 6-0 in Atlantic 10 play for the second straight year. VCU is 42-14 in Atlantic 10 play since it joined the league prior to the 2012-13 season.
- VCU is 4-0 all-time against Duquesne.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Rams will lock horns with St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 2:30 p.m. at the Siegel Center. NBC Sports will carry the broadcast.
