Score: VCU 63, Davidson 58
Location: Davidson, N.C. (Belk Arena)
Records: VCU 13-7 (5-2 Atlantic 10), Davidson 12-8 (2-5)
 
The short story: Senior guard Max Shulga scored a team-high 18 points including a late, go-ahead 3-pointer, and VCU held Davidson to just two field goals the final 9:19 on the way to its fifth straight win Saturday night.
 
OPENING TIP

• Shulga connected on 5-of-9 attempts from the field on the contest, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range. He added five rebounds and a pair of assists
• Sophomore forward Tobi Lawal supplied 13 points - including five critical free throws down the stretch -- and six rebounds off the bench for the Black and Gold
• Senior guard Zeb Jackson returned after missing the past two games with back spasms and added nine points and two steals for VCU, while senior guard Joe Bamisile chipped in eight points
• Davidson's Connor Kochera led all players with 19 points 

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU trailed by nine, at 49-40, with 9:19 remaining following a 3-pointer by the Wildcats' Bobby Durkin. But the Rams responded with a 17-4 run, aided by a Shulga trey at the 6:16 mark that gave VCU a 52-51 lead, on the way to a 57-53 advantage with 1:10 remaining
• Lawal, who entered the game as a 53-percent free throw shooter, knocked down 7-of-8 from the charity stripe in the game, including six straight as VCU mounted its comeback
• VCU hit 10-of-10 free throws in the final 2:39 to keep Davidson at bay
• The Rams forced 12 Davidson turnovers, while only committing six of their own. VCU outscored the Wildcats 18-5 off turnovers in the game
• VCU limited Davidson to 37 percent (19-of-52) shooting in the game, including 21 percent (4-of-21) from 3-point range 

NOTABLE

• VCU has won 11 straight true road games, a streak that dates back to last season. It's the longest such streak in the country. VCU is 3-0 in true road contests this season
• The Rams have won a season-high five games overall
• VCU converted 10-of-26 (39 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc, as well as 17-of-21 (81 percent) from the free throw line

NEXT UP
VCU will continue its two-game road swing at St. Bonaventure on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. That game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.