Score: VCU 78, Duquesne 67
Location: Richmond, Va. (E.J. Wade Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 11-6 (3-1), Duquesne 12-5 (3-1)
Attendance: 7,637 (110^th consecutive sellout)

The short story: Seniors Justin Tillman and Johnny Williams combined for 26 second-half points to fuel a VCU rally in a 78-67 win over resurgent Duquesne Tuesday.

OPENING TIP

• Williams scored 16 of his team-high 21 points in the second half, including 8-of-10 shooting from the free throw line to lead the Rams.
• Tillman, who was held scoreless in the first half, pumped in 10 points and finished with a season-high 17 rebounds. It's his sixth consecutive double-double and eighth of the season.
• Redshirt sophomore Issac Vann (15) and sophomore De'Riante Jenkins (12) also scored in double figures for VCU. Jenkins added nine rebounds and three assists.
• Freshman forward Sean Mobley provided the Rams with three points and eight rebounds off the bench.
• Mike Lewis II led all players with 23 points for Duquesne. He was 6-of-11 from 3-point range.

 THE DIFFERENCE

• It was a tale of two halves for the Rams, who outscored the Dukes 50-31 in the final 20 minutes.
• VCU's defense, notably its full court pressure, forced Duquesne into 31-percent shooting in the second half, including 27 percent (4-of-15) from beyond the 3-point arc.
• The Rams shot 58 percent (15-of-26) from the field in the second period, as well as 89 percent (16-of-18) from the free throw line.
• VCU trailed by eight points at the break and by as many as 11 in the second  half before the Rams began to mount their comeback. Tillman converted a traditional three-point play to kick off an extended 22-6 VCU run that also included six points from Williams on the way to a 52-47 lead with 9:10 remaining. VCU did not trail again.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• VCU has won 15 straight conference home games.
• Tillman has booked a double-double in 15 of his last 22 conference games.
• The Rams outrebounded Duquesne 50-31.
• Tuesday marked the second straight game the Rams have overcome an eight-point halftime deficit to win. VCU rallied from a 40-32 deficit to beat La Salle Saturday. 

NEXT UP
VCU will travel to face Dayton on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at UD Arena. That game will be televised by ESPNU.