Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Game
Score: #6 Duquesne 57, VCU 51
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Barclays Center)
Records: #5 VCU 22-13, #6 Duquesne 24-11
 
The short story: Senior guard Joe Bamisile poured in 20 points for VCU, but the Rams' dramatic comeback attempt fell short Sunday in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Game. VCU rode its defense to erase an 18-point deficit and get within 49-48 with 1:36 remaining, but a late 6-0 run by Duquense sealed the Rams' fate.
 
OPENING TIP

• Bamisile converted 7-of-15 attempts from the floor and 6-of-7 at the free throw line. He was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Championship Team
• VCU senior guard Zeb Jackson had 11 points and grabbed five rebounds
• Duquesne was led by Dae Dae Grant who had 10 points. Drame Fousseyni had a game-high 12 rebounds along with six points

THE DIFFERENCE

• Duquesne held a 41-32 advantage in rebounds and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds to VCU's eight
• VCU went just 5-of-24 (21 percent) from 3-point range while Duquesne shot 8-of-25
• The Dukes went 7-of-14 from 3-point range in the first half and shot 42.9 percent to build a 36-22 halftime lead
• VCU, who trailed by as many as 18, was down 36-18 with 2:14 left in the first half
• The Rams cut it to 38-32 after a 3-pointer from Jackson capped a 14-2 run for VCU
• VCU's defense held Duquesne scoreless for an 8:32 stretch during the run
• After Duquesne built its lead back to 49-41 with 4:35 remaining, the Rams again made a run. This time VCU used a 7-0 burst to get within 49-48 with 1:36 after a pair of Bamisile free throws
• The Rams missed shots on back-to-back possessions down 51-48 and the Dukes pulled away at the line

NOTABLE

• Senior guard Max Shulga was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Championship Team alongside Bamisile
• Bamisile recorded his fifth 20-point game of the season
• VCU was playing in its eighth A-10 Championship game in 11 years