Score: VCU 74, Navy 52
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 9-4, Navy 7-5
 
The short story: Redshirt sophomore forward Jamir Watkins and sophomore forward Jalen DeLoach were a dynamic duo in the paint, combining for 36 of VCU's 74 points to help the Rams sail past the Midshipmen. VCU has won a season-high four straight games.

OPENING TIP

• DeLoach scored a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals
• Watkins also notched 18 points on 7-of-13 from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line
• Junior guard Ace Baldwin Jr. did a superb job of dishing the ball out to his teammates, leading the team with eight assists
• Junior guard Zeb Jackson, senior forward David Shriver, and sophomore guard Nick Kern Jr. added nine, eight, and seven points respectively to the Rams' total
• Tyler Nelson buoyed the Midshipmen effort with 17 points and eight rebounds

THE DIFFERENCE

• Early on, it looked like it would be a smooth voyage for Navy, as the Midshipmen got out to a 11-0 run in the first 3:48 of the game. The Black and Gold, however, roared back with a 20-4 run over the course of 6:14, capped by back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore guard Jayden Nunn
• After Navy put up the first five points of the second half to draw within two, the Rams went on a 10-0 run for 3:08. Shriver got the ball rolling with a three-pointer, and then Watkins and DeLoach combined for the next seven Rams points
• The Rams' dominance inside was their key to success, outscoring Navy in the paint 46-24
• VCU also had a good night shooting the ball, connecting on 29-of-56 (52 percent) from the field compared to Navy's 20-of-55 (36 percent)
• The Black and Gold also got more production out of their bench than the Midshipmen, with the Rams' outscoring Navy's bench 27-14

NOTABLE

• With the victory, VCU remains undefeated all-time against Navy at 3-0, with the previous victories coming in 1979 and 1980
• Navy's 52 points were the fewest scored by a VCU opponent this season, the previous low being 54 points by Morgan State back on Nov. 12
• The Rams gave up only nine turnovers, the second-lowest total of the season and only the second game with single-digit turnovers

UP NEXT
The Rams will take a break for the holiday season before beginning Atlantic 10 Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 31 when they host the La Salle Explorers. The game will begin at 2 p.m., and it will be broadcast on MASN and streamed on ESPN+.