Score: VCU 88, Saint Joseph's 63
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. (Hagan Arena)
Records: VCU 21-7 (12-3 Atlantic 10), Saint Joseph's 13-15 (7-9)
The short story: Sophomore guard
Jayden Nunn exploded for a career-high 31 points to spark VCU to a wire-to-wire win in Philadelphia Tuesday.
OPENING TIP
- Nunn scored VCU's first eight points and poured in 23 in the first half alone as the Rams built a 40-30 lead. Nunn hit his first nine field goal attempts and finished the game 12-of-13 from the floor, including 7-of-7 from 3-point range. It's the most made threes without a miss by a Ram in program history
- Sophomore forward Jalen DeLoach tied a career-high with 19 points and seven rebounds for the Rams. He connected on 9-of-11 attempts
- Graduate forward Brandon Johns Jr. added eight points and three rebounds for the Black and Gold
- Erik Reynolds II led Saint Joseph's with 21 points
THE DIFFERENCE
- VCU shot 53 percent (31-of-59) from the field overall, including 58 percent (11-of-19) from 3-point range
- On the defensive end, VCU limited the Hawks to 38-percent (21-of-56) shooting, including 29 percent (8-of-28) from 3-point range. The Rams also forced 15 turnovers and turned them into 20 points
- VCU owned a 35-30 advantage on the glass and turned the ball over just nine times
NOTABLE
- VCU has won seven straight road games and 16 of its last 19 overall
- The Rams have won five straight in their series with Saint Joseph's and improve to 11-5 all-time against the Hawks
- VCU maintains its hold on sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference with Tuesday's win
- Nunn's 31 points are the second-most by a Ram this season. Junior guard Ace Baldwin Jr. scored 37 earlier this season at Saint Louis
NEXT UP
VCU will host Richmond in this season's second edition of the Richmond Area Honda Dealers Capital City Classic at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
