NIT Second Round
Score: VCU 70, South Florida 65
Location: Tampa, Fla. (Yuengling Center)
Records: VCU 24-13, South Florida 25-8
 
The short story: Zeb Jackson led VCU with 14 points, while graduate wing Sean Bairstow and sophomore forward Tobi Lawal made clutch plays down the stretch to send VCU to the NIT Quarterfinals with a win Sunday night in Tampa.
 
OPENING TIP

• Jackson knocked down 5-of-9 attempt from the floor, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. He added four rebounds
• Bairstow chipped in with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal, while Lawal provided 10 points, five rebounds and a block
• Sophomore forward Christian Fermin also suppled 10 points, four boards and a pair of blocks for the Black and Gold
• Chris Youngblood led all players with 28 points for the Bulls

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU led for the final 18:46, but South Florida kept knocking at the door. The Bulls pulled to within 62-61 on a pair of Youngblood free throws with 3:24 left. But Lawal answered a short time later, finishing through contact in the paint for an And-1 bucket with 2:15 remaining. VCU senior guard Joe Bamisile scooped up an offensive rebound and laid the ball in to give the Rams some breathing room, at 66-61, with 1:26 on the clock. The Bulls would again trim the lead to one on back-to-back scores by Youngblood and Selton Miguel. But Bairstow and Lawal knocked down four free throws and VCU's defense forced a contested three by Youngblood with five seconds left, as the Rams held on
• VCU knocked down 10-of-26 from 3-point range in the contest, while South Florida was just 4-of-20 from beyond the arc
• The Rams shot 50 percent (13-of-26) from the field in the second half
• Youngblood buried a three on the first possession of the second half to give the Bulls a 33-32 lead. Jackson answered with his fourth triple of the day on the ensuing play at the 18:46 mark, and the Rams never trailed again. The Rams would lead by as many as nine points, following a three by redshirt freshman guard Fats Billups III that made it 56-47 with 9:21 left

NOTABLE

• With Sunday's win, VCU advances to the NIT Quarterfinals for the first time since 1988
• VCU improves to 27-12 all-time against South Florida, its former Sun Belt and Metro Conference rival

NEXT UP
VCU will head to Salt Lake City, Utah, to face Utah on Wednesday, March 27 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.