Shriners Children's Hospital Charleston Classic
Score: Seton Hall 69, VCU 66 OT
Location: Charleston, S.C. (TD Arena)
Records: VCU 4-1, Seton Hall 3-2
 
The short story: Zeb Jackson provided VCU with a boost in his return from injury, and Max Shulga supplied the Black and Gold with 20 points, but the Rams dropped a hard-fought defensive battle in overtime Thursday night in their Charleston Classic opener.
 
OPENING TIP

• Shulga connected on 6-of-14 from the field and 8-of-11 attempts at the free throw line. He added five rebounds and two steals
• Jackson missed the first four games this season with a broken left hand, but returned to provide 15 points and three steals off the bench for the Rams
• Joe Bamisile also contributed 13 points, five rebounds and three assists for VCU
• Chaunce Jenkins led all scorers with 22 points for Seton Hall

THE DIFFERENCE

• Jenkins hit a go-ahead jumper with 2:21 remaining in overtime to give the Pirates a 65-63 lead. A free throw pulled VCU within 65-64. A short time later, Seton Hall's David Tubek buried a 3-pointer from the left wing late in the shot clock to push the Pirates edge to 68-64 with 35 seconds remaining. Shulga pulled VCU within 68-66 with a jumper with 13 seconds left, but the Rams could get no closer. A 3-point attempt on VCU's final possession was wide
• VCU shot 1-of-8 from the field in overtime, including 0-of-5 from 3-point range
• Shulga sent the game to overtime when he drove to the rim for a bucket to tie the score at 61-61 with two seconds showing in regulation
• The Black and Gold struggled to find its range from the outside, connecting on just 9-of-37 from beyond the arc (24 percent)
• The Rams led by as many as eight points in the second half and held a 57-53 lead with 3:55 remaining after Bamisile scored on a tip-in and hit a 3-pointer on consecutive VCU possessions. But Tubek drilled a three with 2:54 left. Shulga pushed VCU ahead 59-57 at the 1:03 mark, but Jenkins hit two free throws with 42 seconds showing, then scored on a layup on Seton Hall's ensuing possession to give the Pirates a 61-59 lead
• The Pirates owned a 44-30 rebounding advantage and shot 55 percent (12-of-22) from the field in the second half 

NOTABLE

• VCU led for 28:58 Thursday
• The game featured nine ties and 14 lead changes

NEXT UP
VCU will take on either Vanderbilt or Nevada on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at TD Arena. That contest will stream live on ESPN+.