ESPN Events Invitational
Score: Iowa State 68, VCU 64
Location: Make Buena Vista, Fla. (State Farm Field House)
Records: Iowa State 5-0, VCU 3-2
 
The short story: Senior guard Max Shulga led four Rams in double figures with 17 points, but it wasn't enough to hold off a furious Iowa State comeback down the stretch, as the Rams fell in their opener of the ESPN Events Invitational Thursday.
 
OPENING TIP

• Shulga buried 4-of-7 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc and connected on 5-of-6 free throws. He also dished out a game-high eight assists for VCU
• Freshman forward Michael Belle turned in the most productive performance of his collegiate career with a season-high 14 points. He converted 4-of-6 attempts from the floor, including the first two 3-pointers of his career
• Sophomore forward Christian Fermin added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting, while senior guard Zeb Jackson added 10 points and five rebounds for the Black and Gold
• Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert led Iowa State with 22 points apiece

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Cyclones closed the game on a 19-5 run the final 5:44. VCU did not make a field goal the final 4:43. Lipsey scored back-to-back buckets, including a floater right of the lane to give ISU a 65-64 lead with 1:35 remaining. VCU turned the ball over via an offensive foul on its next possession, and Shulga couldn't get a driving layup to go in traffic a short time later as Iowa State held on. The Cyclones hit 3-of-4 free throws in the waning moments to lock up the victory
• Iowa State shot .607 (17-of-28) in the second period as it erased a 33-24 VCU halftime lead
• The Cyclones outscored the Rams 42-18 in the paint and owned a 38-29 rebounding advantage
• VCU led by as many as 15 points in the first half. VCU used a 17-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer from redshirt sophomore guard Jason Nelson, to grab a 31-16 lead with 2:53 left in the period. Iowa State was able to trim the margin to nine in the final moments of the half on consecutive 3-pointers by Lipsey

NOTABLE

• VCU shot .455 (20-of-44) in the game, including a season-best .435 (10-of-23) from the 3-point line
• The Rams led for 35:08 of the contest 

NEXT UP
VCU will face either Boise State or Virginia Tech on Friday, Nov. 24 at 8 p.m. in second-round play at the ESPN Events Invitational on ESPNU.