Score: VCU 74, George Washington 68
Location: Washington, D.C. (Charles E. Smith Center)
Records: VCU 24-7 (15-3 Atlantic 10), George Washington 16-15 (10-8)
 
The short story: Graduate forward Brandon Johns Jr. recorded his first career double-double to lead VCU to a win over George Washington in its regular season finale.
 
OPENING TIP

• Johns finished Saturday's game with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He connected on 6-of-12 attempts from the field and also blocked two shots
• In all, four Rams scored in double figures, including senior forward David Shriver, who scored all 12 of his points in the second half on 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range
• Sophomores Jalen DeLoach and Jamir Watkins added 11 points each for the Black and Gold. DeLoach also grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots
• Junior point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. chipped in six points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals for VCU
• Three Colonials scored 14 points, including Hunter Dean, who also grabbed eight boards

THE DIFFERENCE

• Shriver buried all four of his 3-pointers during a three-minute span midway through the second half. By the time he connected on his final trey at the 7:21 mark, VCU's lead had ballooned to 66-49
• VCU shot 46 percent (24-of-52) from the field in the game, including 47 percent (7-of-15) from 3-point range
• The Rams forced 12 turnovers and outscored the Colonials 16-8 off those miscues
• VCU led 35-32 at the half. Johns opened the second half with a three from the left wing, and DeLoach followed with a bucket off a steal by Nick Kern Jr. to give the Rams a 40-32 advantage
• GW used a 16-2 run to trim VCU's lead to 68-65 with 50 seconds remaining, but Baldwin found Johns cutting through the lane for a two-handed dunk. VCU hit 4-of-4 free throws in the waning moments

NOTABLE

• VCU has won eight straight road games, the second-longest streak in school history. The Rams 2006-07 squad captured nine straight road contests
• VCU led for 36:52 in the game
• The Rams owned a 35-29 advantage on the glass
• VCU's bench outscored George Washington's 30-14

NEXT UP
VCU, which won the A-10 regular season by three games, will be the No. 1 overall seed in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament March 7-12 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Rams have earned a double-bye to the quarterfinal round, and will take on the winner of Wednesday's game between the and eighth and ninth seeded teams. VCU's quarterfinal contest will tip-off at 11:30 a.m. on USA Network.