Box Score Score: VCU 88, La Salle 70
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. (Tom Gola Arena)
Records: VCU 17-5 (9-0 A-10), La Salle 5-15 (1-8)
The Short Story: Senior Melvin Johnson erupted eight 3-pointers and scored 30 points as VCU cruised to its 12th straight victory with an 88-70 triumph over La Salle Wednesday night at Tom Gola Arena.
THE DIFFERENCE
- VCU led 22-18 when Johnson began to heat up. The senior from the Bronx, New York hit four of his 3-pointers in the final 6:03 of the period – including one to beat the first half buzzer – to ignite a 22-10 run that gave the Rams a 44-28 halftime lead.
- In all, Johnson buried 6-of-8 triples in the half.
- VCU turned La Salle over 12 times in the first half and outscored the Explorers 20-2 on turnovers in the period.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Johnson was 8-of-13 from beyond the arc and topped 30 points for the second time this season.
- Sophomore Jonathan Williams enjoyed a breakout performance with a career-high 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field.
- Justin Tillman hit all five of his field goal attempts and finished with 13 points. He is shooting .796 (43-of-54) from the field in Atlantic 10 Conference play.
- VCU shot .525 (32-of-61) from the field and in the game and turned the Explorers over 17 times. The Rams committed just seven turnovers in the game.
NOTABLE
- The Rams have won 14 straight games against A-10 competition, dating back to last season. VCU is now 5-0 on the road in the A-10 this season.
- Johnson moved past Troy Daniels (251) and into sole possession of second place on VCU's career 3-pointers list with 256. He needs 14 treys to surpass B.A. Walker (269) and become VCU's all-time leader.
- Johnson also moved into 15th place on VCU's all-time scoring list (1,448).
- The Rams have not trailed in more than two games (85:33).
WHAT'S NEXT
- VCU will return to the Stuart C. Siegel Center to host George Washington on Saturday, Feb. 6 at noon. CBS Sports Network will broadcast that contest.
