Box Score Score: VCU 87, Richmond 74
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 20-7 (12-2 A-10), Richmond 14-12 (6-8)
Attendance: 7,637 (82nd consecutive sellout)
The short story: VCU senior Melvin Johnson hit a pair of late threes to fuel a run that put Richmond away for good and finished with 20 points as the Rams knocked off the Spiders 87-74 Friday night. Johnson hit four 3-pointers in the game to tie B.A. Walker as VCU's career leader with 269.
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THE DIFFERENCE
- VCU led wire-to-wire, but Richmond didn't make it easy. The Spiders' last real push pulled them within 64-56 with 10:21 left. But Johnson sandwiched a pair of threes around a layup by Richmond's Khwan Fore to spark a 13-2 VCU rush that gave the Rams a 77-58 advantage.
- Richmond cut the deficit to 10 with 5:49 remaining following three straight 3-pointers, one from T.J. Cline and two by Marshall Wood. However, VCU redshirt junior Mo Alie-Cox scored on back-to-back possession and the Rams scored six straight points to end Richmond's comeback hopes.
- The Rams' lead was just six at the half, but a 10-2 burst – kicked off by a Johnson three – pushed VCU in front 61-44 with 13:41 showing.
- VCU owned the glass, outrebounding Richmond 41-21.
- The Rams also shot 53 percent (35-of-66) in the contest, including 11-of-22 from three.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Johnson knocked down 8-of-16 from the floor and scored 16 of his points in the second half.
- Meanwhile, the Rams recorded a pair of double-doubles. Junior JeQuan Lewis scored 13 points and handed out 10 assists, while Alie-Cox scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. They are the first VCU players in more than two years to register double-doubles in the same game.
- Junior Jordan Burgess found his shooting stroke for VCU. The Midlothian, Virginia native buried 4-of-5 three-point attempts and finished with a season-high 14 points.
- Justin Tillman scored 15 points for VCU, all in the first half.
- Cline kept Richmond afloat with a game-high 22 points.
NOTABLE
- VCU improved to 49-27 all-time against Richmond.
- The Rams have scored 80 points and shot better than 50 percent from the field in three straight games.
- VCU hit its first six 3-pointers to open the second half.
- Johnson moved into a tie with Troy Daniels for second place in program single-season history for 3-pointers with 94. Daniels also holds the record with 124.
- The Rams have won at least 20 games in 10 straight seasons.
WHAT'S NEXT
- VCU will return to the road to face George Mason on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at Eaglebank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia.
