Legends Classic
Score: VCU 71, Pitt 67
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Barclays Center)
Records: VCU 3-1, Pitt 1-3
 
The short story: Michigan transfers Brandon Johns Jr. and Zeb Jackson combined for 34 points as VCU held off a second-half charge from Pitt Thursday in the third-place game of the Vivid Seats Legends Classic.
 
OPENING TIP

• Johns scored a game-high 18 points for the Rams, including 11 in the second half, and tied a career-high with nine rebounds. He connected on 9-of-11 free throws
• Jackson, a junior guard, poured in a career-high 16 points, including 11 after the break. Jackson converted 4-of-8 from the field and 7-of-8 at the charity stripe. He added three steals, three assists and three rebounds
• Junior guard Josh Banks gave the Rams a shot in the arm off the bench with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting, while sophomore guards Jamir Watkins and Jayden Nunn added eight points each
• Blake Hinson led Pitt with 18 points 

THE DIFFERENCE

• Johns scored seven straight VCU points, including a traditional three-point play in traffic, to give VCU a 61-60 lead with 1:35 remaining. VCU hit 8-of-10 free throws in the final 90 seconds to keep the Panthers at bay
• VCU used an 11-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by senior forward David Shriver and a driving layup by Jackson to erase a six-point Pitt lead and push the Rams in front 46-41 with 10:47 left. A short time later, Hinson buried a 3-pointer from the wing to cap a 16-6 Pitt run and give the Panthers a 57-51 advantage
• The Rams held Pitt to 42 percent (24-of-57) shooting in the contest, including 5-of-22 from beyond the 3-point arc
• VCU forced 18 Pitt turnovers and converted those miscues into 23 points 

NOTABLE

• VCU was playing in the Legends Classic for the third time. The Rams have split a pair of games in each trip
• The Rams lead the all-time series with Pitt, 4-2. Thursday's game was the first between the two schools since an 84-79 Pitt overtime victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y. on March 18, 2007
• The game was Pitt Coach Jeff Capel's third against the Rams since departing VCU in 2006. VCU is 2-1 in those games. Capel led the Rams to 79 wins and a 2004 NCAA Tournament appearance from 2002-06

NEXT UP
VCU will hit the road on Sunday, Nov. 20 to take on Memphis at 5 p.m. EST. That game will air on ESPN+.