Score: VCU 78, Saint Peter's 61
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 2-1, Saint Peter's 1-2
Attendance: 7,637 (Sellout)
 
The Short Story: Junior guard Tyrell Ward poured in a team high 15 points to lead five Rams in double figures as VCU defeated Saint Peter's before a sellout crowd at the Stuart C. Siegel Center Wednesday night.
 
OPENING TIP

• Senior guard Jadrian Tracey delivered another steady performance for the Rams, finishing with 11 points, including 2-of-4 from deep and 5-of-6 at the line, while adding four rebounds and four assists
• Ward connected on 5-of-11 from the field, as well as 3-for-3 from the free throw line. He grabbed three rebounds
• Senior forward Barry Evans delivered an 11-point, eight-rebound, four-assists effort for the Black and Gold, while junior forward Lazar Djokovic supplied 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks in 30 minutes of action
• Brent Bland led all players with 25 points for the Peacocks

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU shot 48 percent (11-of-23) in the first half on the way to a 41-32 lead. The Rams opened the second half on a 10-2 run, highlighted by a Djokovic dunk and a 3-pointer from the right corner by sophomore guard Ahmad Nowell to stretch their lead to 51-34 with 16:02 remaining
• The Rams held Saint Peter's to 31 percent (19-of-61) shooting in the contest, including 6-of-24 from 3-point range. Bland finished 8-of-16 from the field, while the rest of the Peacocks were a combined 11-of-45 (24 percent)
• After a back-and-forth opening stretch that saw the game tied 13-13, the Rams went on a 20-6 run, capped by an Evans fast-break layup, to build a 33-19 lead with 8:12 left in the first half
• Saint Peter's closed the gap to 64-55 with 6:44 to play, but VCU responded immediately with five straight points from Evans and Ward to push the margin back to 69-55 at the 6:22 mark 

NOTABLE

• VCU forced 14 Saint Peter's turnovers and blocked five shots
• The Rams led for 35:29 Wednesday night
• Five Rams scored in double figures. VCU has registered at least four players in double figures in all three games this season
• VCU shot 35 free throws in the contest, connecting on 26 (74 percent) 

NEXT UP
VCU hits the road for a Monday night match-up at N.C. State on Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in Raleigh. The game will air on the ACC Network, with radio coverage on 910 The Fan.