Score: New Mexico 78, VCU 71
Location: Albuquerque, N.M. (The Pit)
Records: VCU 9-3, New Mexico 9-3
The short story: Senior guard
Max Shulga led a VCU comeback with 20 second-half points, but New Mexico's Donovan Dent willed the Lobos to victory behind a career-high 40 points Wednesday night at The Pit.
OPENING TIP
- Shulga, who was held scoreless in the first half, connected on 6-of-9 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-6 from the 3-point line, after the break on the way to a team-high 20 points. He added two steals
- Graduate guards Phillip Russell (13 points), Joe Bamisile (12) and Zeb Jackson (10) all reached double figures for the Black and Gold
- Sophomore forward Michael Belle also kicked in six points and five rebounds for the Rams
- Dent's 40 points are the most by an opposing player against VCU in more than 20 years. He converted 14-of-26 shots from the field via an array of crafty drives and floaters in the lane. He also converted 10-of-11 attempts at the free throw line and provided five rebounds and four assists
THE DIFFERENCE
- New Mexico pieced together an extended 20-6 run, punctuated by eight straight points from Dent, to take its largest lead of the game at 51-36 with 15:43 remaining
- Back-to-back threes by Jackson kicked off a 16-5 VCU run over the next four minutes to cut the Lobo lead to 56-52 with 11:54 on the clock. But Dent came to New Mexico's rescue again, scoring seven points during a 9-3 burst that extended the margin to 73-61 with 4:49 left
- The Lobos outrebounded VCU 47-33, including 16-7 on the offensive glass. New Mexico owned a 16-8 advantage in second-chance points
- New Mexico outscored the Rams 44-26 in the paint
- VCU converted just 13-of-24 free throws and shot 5-of-20 from 3-point range in the second half
NOTABLE
- VCU saw its five-game win streak snapped Wednesday
- Shulga has reached the 20-point mark five times this season
NEXT UP
VCU will return home to face William & Mary on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. on MASN and ESPN+. Sunday's contest will also feature a pregame ceremony to retire the jersey of former VCU star Briante Weber.