Box Score Score: VCU 59, North Texas 56
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU (2-0), North Texas (1-1)
Attendance: 7,637 (135th consecutive sellout)
The Short Story: Senior forward Mike'L Simms hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers down the stretch to lift 25th-ranked VCU past North Texas in low-scoring, physical contest.
OPENING TIP
- Senior guard Marcus Evans lead VCU with 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting. The Chesapeake, Va. native also knocked down 3-of-5 from beyond the 3-point arc
- Senior guard De'Riante Jenkins added 12 points and hit two critical free throws in the waning moments
- Junior forward Marcus Santos-Silva led the Rams with seven rebounds and three assists in the contest
- It was another balanced effort for VCU, which saw nine Rams score. Senior guard Issac Vann added nine points for the Black and Gold
- Guard DJ Draper scored 12 points on 4-of-7 from 3-point range to lead the Mean Green
THE DIFFERENCE
- Simms hit two critical threes in the final 2:07. Despite an 0-of-6 start from the field, the Richmond, Va. native buried a triple at the 2:07 mark to give VCU a 54-50 cushion. The Mean Green pulled within 54-53, but Simms connected again from up top with 1:11 remaining to keep North Texas at bay
- The Mean Green had one last crack in the final moments, but Evans swiped a steal with 13 seconds left and Jenkins hit a pair of free throws for the final margin
- VCU used a 20-0 run midway through the first half to surge to a 31-19 lead with 1:59 on the clock. The Rams would take a 31-21 lead into the locker room at the half
- The Rams shot 39 percent (10-of-26) from beyond the 3-point arc to answer North Texas' tough interior defense
- The Mean Green fought back from a 12-point deficit to briefly take the lead on two occasions
NOTABLES
- VCU turned North Texas over 18 times and held the Mean Green to just eight free throw attempts
- The Black & Gold tie the all-time series against UNT at 1-1. The first and last meeting between these two teams was in 1976 and favored the Mean Green.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Rams will host 22nd-ranked LSU at the Siegel Center on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m.
