Score: VCU 78, Saint Joseph's 69
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. (Hagan Arena)
Records: VCU 14-4 (4-1 Atlantic 10), Saint Joseph's 11-7 (2-3)
The short story: Philadelphia-native
Jack Clark poured in 18 points, including critical back-to-back 3-pointers late in the second half, to power VCU to a road win at Saint Joseph's Friday night.
OPENING TIP
- Clark knocked down 5-of-8 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and added seven rebounds for the Black and Gold. In all, five Rams scored in double figures
- Graduate guard Phillip Russell supplied 16 points to the VCU cause. He converted 7-of-10 tries from the field, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range
- Max Shulga added 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists for the Rams, while Zeb Jackson contributed 14 points and seven boards
- Graduate guard Joe Bamisile kicked in 11 points for the Black and Gold
- Xzayvier Brown led all players with 22 points for Saint Joseph's
THE DIFFERENCE
- The Hawks tied the game at 60-60 on a Derek Simpson 3-pointer with 6:21 on the clock. But Clark drilled threes on back-to-back VCU possessions – the second coming off a Shulga offensive rebound – to give the Rams a 66-60 advantage with 4:53 remaining. The Rams would not trail again, and would expand their lead to 74-64 with 54 seconds left on a pair of Jackson free throws
- The Rams shot 46 percent (10-of-22) from beyond the arc, while limiting Saint Joseph's to 22 percent (8-of-36) shooting from deep
- The Black and Gold held the Hawks to 33 percent (24-of-72) shooting on the evening
- Brown scored seven points to spark a 10-0 Saint Joseph's run in the first half that erased a 30-20 VCU lead. But the Rams answered with an 8-2 burst, including a drive and score by Jackson, to take a 38-32 lead into the locker room
- VCU built its lead to 11, at 52-41 on a pull-up 3-pointer by Russell with 12:59 remaining, but the Hawks would not go quietly
NOTABLE
- VCU has won eight straight over Saint Joseph's, including its past four at Hagan Arena
- The Rams owned a 19-5 advantage in fast break points, and VCU's bench outscored Saint Joseph's' 19-7
NEXT UP
VCU will hit the road to face Rhode Island on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. That contest will air on CBS Sports Network.
