Score: Saint Louis 78, VCU 69
Location: St. Louis, Mo. (Chaifetz Arena)
Records: VCU 16-5 (6-2 Atlantic 10), Saint Louis 13-8 (6-2 A-10)
 
The short story: Graduate guards Zeb Jackson and Phillip Russell supplied 15 points each for VCU, but it wasn't enough for the Rams to overcome a cold shooting night Tuesday in St. Louis.
 
OPENING TIP

• Jackson converted 4-of-8 attempts from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and also knocked down 4-of-4 from the free throw line
• Russell connected on 5-of-12 tries from the floor and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe
• Graduate guards Max Shulga and Joe Bamisile added 14 and 11 points, respectively, for the Black and Gold. Bamisile also corralled six rebounds and swiped four steals
• Gibson Jimerson led all scorers with 26 points for Saint Louis

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU shot 33 percent (22-of-67) from the field in the game, including 5-of-31 from 3-point range. The Rams converted just 9-of-31 field goals (29 percent) in the second half
• The Rams were outrebounded 23-13 in the second half
• The Billikens made 39 trips to the free throw line and connected on 30
• VCU took a 51-49 lead with 9:02 left on a Jackson transition 3-pointer from the wing. But Saint Louis responded with a traditional three-point play by Jimerson on the next possession, followed by a 3-pointer by Isaiah Swope to assume a 55-51 advantage with 8:27 on the clock. The Billikens would not trail again, and would make 17-of-21 at the free throw line in the final four minutes to keep the Black and Gold at bay
• Back-to-back buckets by Shulga and Russell in the final minute of the first half sent the Rams to the locker room with a 31-28 lead 

NOTABLE

• VCU saw its six-game win streak versus Saint Louis snapped. The Rams lead the all-time series 16-6
• The Rams collected 15 offensive rebounds and owned a 17-2 advantage in second-chance points
• VCU entered Tuesday's contest riding a season-high six game win streak

NEXT UP
VCU will return home to face crosstown rival Richmond in the Richmond Area Honda Dealers Capital City Classic on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. That game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.