Score: No. 1 VCU 90, No. 4 Saint Louis 78
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Barclays Center)
Records: VCU 26-7, Saint Louis 21-12
Schedule Note:: Atlantic 10 Semifinals
 
The short story: VCU used a 23-5 run to start the second half, powered by 10 points from sophomore guard Jayden Nunn, to take a commanding 67-44 lead and advance to the Atlantic 10 Championship game.
 
OPENING TIP

• Jayden Nunn led five Rams in double figures with game-high 18 points, shooting a blistering 7-of-9 from the floor and a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range
• Junior guard Ace Baldwin, Jr. poured in 13 points while adding six assists and five rebounds
• Redshirt sophomore Jamir Watkins had 15 points and five rebounds
• Graduate Brandon Johns Jr. nearly had a double-double with 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds. He also tied a career-high with four steals and added three assists
• The Billikens were led by Javon Pickett who had 18 points and three rebounds

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Rams outscored the Billikens 24-16 in points off turnovers and 14-8 in second chance points.
• VCU won the rebounding battle 37-30 and led in steals 10-5
• VCU shot 55.7 percent from the floor and 47 percent from 3-point range. Saint Louis shot 49 percent from the floor and 45 percent from behind the arc
• The Black and Gold were firing on all cylinders early, taking a commanding 31-16 lead on a David Shriver 3-pointer with 9:21 left before halftime
• The Billikens responded with a 13-2 run to cut the lead to 33-29 with 4:41 left in the first half. The two teams went back-and-forth as VCU led 44-39 at the break
• The Rams were blistering hot to start the second half, using the 24-5 run to push their lead to 67-44. Nunn hit two 3-pointers and had 10 points during the run
• The Rams led by as many as 25 points but worked the clock to hold off Saint Louis for the win

NOTABLE

• The 26 wins this season mark the most by VCU under Head Coach Mike Rhoades
• The Rams reach their seventh A-10 Championship, the most appearances by any program in the league since 2012-13
• VCU has never lost in the A-10 Semifinals, improving the mark to 7-0 all-time dating back to joining the league in 2012-13
• VCU has won eight straight contests overall and the Rams haven't lost a road or neutral site game since Jan. 4, now a 10-game streak

NEXT UP
VCU will face the winner of No. 2 Dayton and No. 3 Fordham on Sunday, March 12. The game will tip at 1 p.m. and be nationally televised on CBS.