Score: VCU 90, Princeton 79
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 22-9, Princeton 23-7
 
The short story: Sophomore guard Ace Baldwin Jr. and senior guard KeShawn Curry scored 23 points apiece as VCU held off Princeton 90-79 in the first round of the NIT Tuesday night.
 
OPENING TIP

• Baldwin's 23 points set a new career high, and he shot 8-of-14 from the floor. He added five rebounds and five assists
• Curry grabbed four rebounds and had two assists. He shot 10-of-16 from the floor
• VCU senior forward Vince Williams Jr. recorded his third career double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing a team-high 11 rebounds. He also added a team-high six assists
• Freshman guard Jayden Nunn scored 13 points for the Rams
• Tosan Evbuomwan led Princeton with 22 points and 12 rebounds

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU held a 10-4 advantage in points off turnovers while committing just seven turnovers. The seven turnovers tied a season low for the Rams
• The Rams had 56 points in the paint while Princeton had 48 points in the paint
• VCU went 12-of-16 from the from throw line while Princeton was 4-of-11
• The Rams limited Princeton to shoot just 17 percent from 3-point range in the first half and led 39-32 at the half
• The Tigers cut the VCU lead to 64-59 with 8:39 remaining but a quick 5-0 run by the Rams pushed their lead to 69-59, its largest lead of the game to that point
• VCU led by at least seven points the remainder of the contest to hold off the Tigers

NOTABLE

• VCU shot a season-high 58 percent from the floor (36-of-62)
• The Rams scored 51 points in the second half, the most in a half this season
• All three of Williams' career double-doubles have come this season

NEXT UP
VCU will face the winner of Wake Forest and Towson who play tomorrow night at 7 p.m. The game time and location will be announced following the conclusion of that game.