Score: Dayton 62, VCU 58
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 18-7 (9-3 Atlantic 10), Dayton (16-9, 8-4 Atlantic 10)
Attendance: 7,637 (Third consecutive sellout)
 
The short story: In a tightly contested battle, Dayton went on an 11-3 to open up an eight-point lead with 6:25 left. VCU staged a rally, outscoring the visiting Flyers 9-4 over the final 4:10, but the Black and Gold could not find the last bit of offense they needed and fell short for their second straight loss at home.

OPENING TIP

• Junior Ace Baldwin, Jr. led the Rams in scoring once again with 14 points. Sophomore Jalen DeLoach and sophomore Jayden Nunn also scored in double figures, putting up 11 and 10 points, respectively
• VCU took better care of the basketball than Dayton, who turned over the ball 17 times to the Rams' nine
• Toumani Camara led all scorers with 26 points and 15 reboundsfor the Flyers. DaRon Holmes II contributed 11 points to Dayton's cause

THE DIFFERENCE

• The game was tied at 44 with 13:03 remaining when Dayton went on a 11-3 run over the next 6:38 to open up an eight-point lead. Of those 11 points, nine came from Camara, and Holmes capped the run with a layup at the 6:25 mark
• The Black and Gold fought valiantly in the closing minutes, outscoring the Flyers 9-4 in the final 4:10. The comeback effort commenced with four straight points by Baldwin Jr. on a pull-up jumper and a driving layup. The Rams drew to within one possession with a pair three straight free throws by Nunn. However, that is as close as they would get as Dayton got two free throws in the closing seconds, one from Kobe Elvis and another from Camara, to put the game out of reach
• VCU shot .211 (4-of-19) from 3-point land and .500 (10-of-20) from the free throw line

NOTABLE

• VCU and Dayton split the regular season series, with each team winning on the opposition's home court. The Rams lead the all-time series 16-9
• This is Baldwin Jr.'s fourth straight game leading the Rams in scoring

UP NEXT
VCU will take an eight-day break from games before a road matchup against Rhode Island on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m., and it will be broadcast on MASN and streamed on ESPN+.