Box Score
Score: UMass 60, VCU 52
Location: Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center)
Records: VCU 17-11 (7-8 A-10), UMass 13-15 (7-8)
The short story: Junior forward Marcus Santos-Silva recorded his 10th double-double of the season, but cold shooting in the second half sent VCU to a 60-52 Wednesday in Amherst, Mass.
OPENING TIP
- Santos-Silva provided 14 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and a pair of steals to the VCU cause. He was 6-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-3 at the free throw line
- Senior De'Riante Jenkins added 13 points, including 3-of-6 shooting from three for the Black and Gold. He also corralled seven rebounds
- Freshman guard Bones Hyland also supplied nine points, four assists and a pair of steals for VCU
- Carl Pierre led all scorers with 21 points for UMass. Freshman phenom Tre Mitchell provided 19 points and 15 boards to the Minuteman effort
THE DIFFERENCE
- VCU struggled from the field in the second half. The Rams shot 23 percent (7-of-30) overall in the final period, including 1-of-9 from 3-point range
- UMass outrebounded the Rams 37-35
- The Rams led 38-30 with 15:07 remaining following a layup by senior guard Issac Vann. But UMass' Sean East and Mitchell kicked off an 11-0 run with back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Minutemen a 41-38 lead with 10:51 left
- UMass pushed its lead to as much as 50-43, but VCU trimmed the margin to 53-50 following a 3-pointer by Jenkins with 36 ticks on the clock. VCU would get no closer
NOTABLE
- Santos-Silva has 16 career double-doubles and needs one more to crack VCU's all-time top 10 list
- VCU forced 13 turnovers and committed just 10
NEXT UP
VCU will play host to George Washington on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 4 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. CBS Sports Network will broadcast that contest.
