Capital City Classic, presented by Richmond Area Honda Dealers
Score: Richmond 79, VCU 76
Location: Richmond, Va. (Robins Center)
Records: VCU 19-10 (11-5 Atlantic 10), Richmond 22-7 (14-2)
 
The short story: Senior guard Max Shulga led five Rams in double figures with 19 points, but VCU couldn't overcome the heroics of Richmond's Jordan King Saturday at the Robins Center.
 
OPENING TIP

• Shulga knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and converted all seven of his free throws. He also supplied four rebounds and two assists
• Graduate wing Sean Bairstow added 13 points, five assists and three rebounds for the Black and Gold
• Sophomore forward Tobi Lawal and senior guard Zeb Jackson also chipped in 13 each for VCU. Jackson provided six rebounds and four assists, while Lawal hauled in five boards
• King ignited the Spiders with 27 points. He hit 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. In all, five Richmond players scored in double figures. Delonnie Hunt added 16 

THE DIFFERENCE

• King drilled a pair of 3-pointers to spark a 12-0 Richmond run midway through the second half that pushed the Spiders in front 52-47 with 10:43 left. King added a third triple, a contested fadeaway from the right wing, as the shot clock expired, to extend Richmond's advantage to 57-50 at the 9:24 mark
• Back-to-back steals and buckets by Jackson and Lawal capped a 9-2 VCU blitz that pulled the Rams within 65-63 with 4:47 remaining. The teams traded a pair of buckets before Isaiah Bigelow provided the Spiders with a 70-65 cushion with a 3-pointer from the wing with 3:58 on the clock. The Rams drew within three once more, but could not get over the hump. A dunk by Dji Bailey and four free throws in the final minute kept VCU at bay
• Richmond connected on 13 straight field goals in the second half to key its comeback. The Spiders shot 67 percent (16-of-24) overall from the field in the second period, including 7-of-14 from beyond the arc
• King scored 10 points, including a go-ahead, step-back jumper, over the final 2:59 of the first half to spur Richmond to an 11-2 run and a 32-29 halftime lead
• Shulga hit a 3-pointer at the 13:32 mark of the second to cap a 15-5 burst by VCU out of the break

NOTABLE

• VCU leads the all-time series with Richmond 60-33
• The Rams shot 46 percent (26-of-56) from the field in the game, including 42 percent (10-of-24) from long rang 

NEXT UP
VCU will host Duquesne on Tuesday, March 5 at 7 p.m. at the Siegel Center. That contest will serve as the Rams' Senior Day and will air on MASN and ESPN+.