Score: VCU 74, Loyola-Chicago 67
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 12-7 (4-2, Atlantic 10), Loyola Chicago 13-7 (5-2)
 
The short story: VCU senior guard Joe Bamisile scored a game-high 25 off the bench, and the Rams held Loyola Chicago to 42 percent shooting, the Ramblers second-lowest mark of the season, in a win Tuesday at the Siegel Center.
 
OPENING TIP

• Bamisile buried 5-of-8 from 3-point range and connected on 9-of-17 from the field overall in the game. He also snagged six rebounds for the Black and Gold
• Graduate forward Kuany Kuany buried 3-of-3 attempts from 3-point range and finished with a season-high 16 points for the Rams
• Graduate wing Sean Bairstow added 12 points, six assists and four rebounds for VCU
• Dame Adelekun led the Ramblers with 14 points

THE DIFFERENCE

• Kuany converted a four-point play to cap a 12-1 VCU run and give the Rams their largest lead of the game, at 67-55, with 3:41 remaining. Loyola back to within 67-63, but VCU connected on 7-of-8 free throws, including 4-of-4 by Bairstow, in the final 1:09 to secure the win
• VCU held the Ramblers to 33 percent (10-of-30) shooting in the second half to erase a 36-33 halftime deficit
• The Rams held Loyola Chicago to 4-of-20 from 3-point range
• Bamisile drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing off a Kuany steal at the first half buzzer to pull VCU within three at the break
• VCU converted 19-of-23 attempts at the free throw line (83 percent)
• The Rams made the most of their chances at the free-throw-line shooting 83 percent (19-23) compared to Loyola Chicago's 76 percent
• The Rams, behind Bamisile and Kuany, knocked down 9-of-15 from beyond the 3-point arc

NOTABLE

• Bamisile has combined for 54 points in his past two games. He's topped 20 points three times in nine games this season
• VCU has won four straight games, and the Rams improved to 2-0 all-time against Loyola
• The game featured five ties and 11 lead changes
• The Rams were without without senior guard Zeb Jackson (back spasms) for the second straight contest

NEXT UP
VCU will hit the road for its next match-up, against Davidson, on Saturday Jan., 27. That game will be televised 8 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network.