Final Score: Middle Tennessee 54, VCU 46
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 0-1, MT 2-0
 
 
The Short Story: VCU trailed by as many as 25 points early in the third quarter before mounting a furious comeback. Janika Griffith-Wallace hit a 3-pointer with 36 seconds left to make it 49-44 with 36 seconds left but VCU fell just short.
 
OPENING TIP: 

• Janika Griffith-Wallace scored a team-high 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting. She went 2-of-5 from 3-point range
• Mykel Parham grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds while adding one point
• Taya Robinson scored five points while adding six rebounds
• VCU shot just 29.4 percent from the floor but limited Middle Tennessee to 32.2 percent shooting. The Blue Raiders shot 26.1 percent from 3-point range, going 6-of-23 with VCU shooting 18.8 percent and 3-of-16
• Middle Tennessee was led by Dor Saar who scored 18 points and had three rebounds

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Middle Tennessee jumped out to a 14-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 33-11 at halftime
• VCU opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run that was capped off by a Griffith-Wallace layup on an offensive rebound. The Rams trailed 36-20 with 5:21 left in the third
• The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter and Middle Tennessee led 42-24 heading into the final 10 minutes
• The Rams turned up the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter and went on a 20-7 run to get within 49-44 with 36 seconds left
• With VCU fouling, the Blue Raiders went 5-of-6 at the free throw line to close the game and hold off the Rams' comeback attempt

UP NEXT:
VCU hosts North Carolina Central on Wednesday, Nov. 17 for a 6 p.m. tip. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.