Box Score Final Score: VCU 84, #23 LSU 82
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 3-0, LSU 1-1
Attendance: 7,637 (137th consecutive sellout)
The Short Story: A defensive stand in the final seconds of the game secured an 84-82 victory over the 23rd-ranked LSU Tigers in a heavyweight battle at the Siegel Center on Wednesday night.
OPENING TIP
- VCU brought the havoc, forcing 26 turnovers and scoring 37 points off of those turnovers
- Junior forward Marcus Santos-Silva once again led the way, posting his second double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He added four steals and two blocks
- Senior guard De'Riante Jenkins added 15 points and three steals for the Black & Gold
- Redshirt senior guard Marcus Evans shot 7-of-8 from the free throw line and finished with 15 points before fouling out with 1:40 left in regulation
- Redshirt senior guard Issac Vann used a pair of 3-pointers and a 5-of-6 night at the charity stripe to add 11 points and sophomore wing Vince Williams put five Rams in double-figures with 11 points of his own
- Five different Tigers scored double-figures as well, led by Skylar Mays' 23
THE DIFFERENCE
- As the clock read 26 seconds, Jenkins hit a pair of free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt to give the Rams an 83-82 lead. The Rams forced a missed floater by LSU, and Santos-Silva was fouled while pulling down his 11th rebound of the night. He hit 1-of-2 at the line with 4.9 seconds remaining
- On LSU's final possession, VCU's pressure forced the Tigers to dribble the ball out of bounds
- Back-and-forth play kept the game extremely close down the stretch, but LSU managed to regain a lead, 82-81, with 41 seconds left
- VCU used a 20-9 burst late in the second half to turn a close game into a 50-38 halftime advantage
- The Tigers refused to go quietly, however, mounting a 25-14 run to begin the second half that pulled them within one
NOTABLES
- The Rams improve to 2-0 all-time against LSU and 5-2 against nationally ranked opponents at the Siegel Center
- LSU owned a 17-16 lead at the 11:06 mark in the first half, but following VCU's 20-9 run, the Tigers didn't lead again until the score read 82-81 with 41 seconds left in the contest
- VCU has now won 14 straight home games dating back to last season
- VCU's win was its first over a ranked opponent under Coach Mike Rhoades
WHAT'S NEXT
The Rams welcome Jacksonville State to the Siegel Center for a Noon matchup on Sunday, Nov. 17.
