Score: VCU 73, Fordham 61
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 12-4 (2-1 Atlantic 10), Fordham 8-8 (0-3)
 
The short story: VCU used 23 offensive rebounds and a 49-point second half to pull away from Fordham in its Atlantic 10 Conference home opener Wednesday at the Siegel Center. Wednesday's game was played without spectators, due to the recent water crisis in Richmond.
 
OPENING TIP

• Graduate guard Joe Bamsile led the way for VCU, pouring in 18 points on a 7-of-11 performance from the field, including 2-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc
• Graduate guard Max Shulga notched a 16-point performance. He also gathered six rebounds and recorded four assists
• Bamisile grabbed a game-high six offensive rebounds, tying his season-high
• Fordham was led by guard Japhet Medor, who scored 19 points

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU recorded a season-high 23 offensive rebounds, leading to 25 second-chance points, compared to Fordham's 13. The Black and Gold outrebounded Fordham 49-33 overall in the contest
• VCU started the second half on an 8-0 over the first 1:43, bookended by buckets from graduate forward Jack Clark, to extend its lead to 32-23 out of the break
• Redshirt sophomore guard Fats Billups' short turnaround jumper in the lane with 7:04 remaining in the second half pushed VCU to a 16-point lead, its largest of the night

NOTABLE

• Freshman forward Luke Bamgboye notched three blocks Wednesday. His 35 blocks this season are the most by a VCU freshman since Mo Alie-Cox registered 48 during the 2013-14 season. Bamgboye added eight points and seven rebounds
• VCU improved to 15-1 all-time against Fordham. The Black and Gold have won nine straight in the series 

NEXT UP
VCU will return to action when it hosts Saint Louis on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. The game is schedule to tip at 7 p.m. and will stream on MASN, CBS6 and ESPN+.