Richmond Area Honda Dealers Capital City Classic
Score: VCU 73, Richmond 58
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 22-7 (13-3 A-10), Richmond 14-15 (7-9)
 
The short story: Junior guard Ace Baldwin Jr. scored 18 points and dished out eight assists as VCU took control early in the first half and never looked back in a victory over rival Richmond Friday.
 
OPENING TIP

• Baldwin connected on 6-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range for the Rams. He added five rebounds, four steals and blocked two shots in an all-round effort
• Four Rams scored in double figures in all. Sophomore forward Jalen DeLoach provided 10 points and eight rebounds, while redshirt sophomore guard Jamir Watkins contributed 11 points, nine caroms and a pair of assists
• Sophomore forward Nick Kern Jr. added 10 points for the Black and Gold
• Neal Quinn provided a game-high 21 points for the Spiders

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU started slow, but DeLoach keyed a 12-0 burst VCU midway through the first half with a trio of baskets that supplied the Rams with a 25-17 lead with 5:51 remaining in the period. VCU would not trail again
• VCU's lead would grow to as many as 24 points on back-to-back 3-pointers by Baldwin and Watkins, which pushed the score to 60-36 with 10:02 on the clock
• The Rams turned the ball over just seven times, their second-lowest total of the season
• The Black and Gold owned the glass to the tune of a 40-29 margin, including 15-7 on the offensive glass. VCU also shot 45 percent (28-of-62) for the game 

NOTABLE

• Richmond, which used a season-high 17 three-pointers to beat Saint Louis on Tuesday, was held to 4-of-22 shooting from long range Friday
• VCU completed a regular-season sweep of Richmond with Friday's victory. The Rams lead the all-time series 59-32
• The Rams maintained sole possession of first place

NEXT UP
VCU will host Saint Louis on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Siegel Center. That game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.