Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament – Second Round
Score: VCU 69, Fordham 62
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Barclays Center)
Records: VCU 20-12, Fordham 13-20
 
The short story: VCU and Fordham went back-and-forth in a game with 11 ties and 11 lead changes but the Black and Gold rode their defense and outscored Fordham 19-8 over the game's final 9:35. With the victory, VCU advances to the Atlantic 10 Tournament Quarterfinals Thursday, where it will face UMass.
 
OPENING TIP

• Senior guard Max Shugla scored a team-high 14 points while adding seven rebounds and four assists. Shulga was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line
• Sophomore forward Tobi Lawal had 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Lawal went an impressive 9-of-11 from the free throw line
• Senior guard Zeb Jackson was the third Ram in double figures with 10 points
• Fordham was led by Kyle Rose who scored a game-high 19 points and three rebounds

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU went 17-of-23 from the free throw line in the second half while Fordham was just 7-of-10
• VCU's defense held Fordham without a field goal for the final 6:26 of game action and allowed just six points
• The Black and Gold scored 15 points at the free throw line during that stretch despite not hitting a field goal for the final 8:41
• VCU tried to pull away in the first half, taking a 31-24 lead on a pair of Lawal free throws with 4:53 left in the half. Fordham responded with a 14-3 run to lead 38-34 with 49 seconds left but a Joe Bamisile 3-pointer got VCU within 38-37 at the break
• Neither team led by more than four points the entire second half, VCU trailed 54-50 with 9:35 remaining but retook the lead with 4:44 left and never trailed again

NOTABLE

• VCU has recorded 20 wins in 15 of the last 18 seasons
• The Black and Gold are 15-2 when attempting more free throws than their opponent and 16-4 when outrebounding an opponent
• Shulga moved into a tie for 10^th on VCU's single-season list for 3-pointers with 78

NEXT UP
Fifth-seeded VCU is set to face fourth-seeded UMass at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The game will be televised on USA.