Score: Utah State 80, VCU 77
Location: Frisco, Texas (Comerica Center)
Records: VCU 1-1, Utah State 2-0
 
The short story: Freshman guard Nyk Lewis poured in 19 points, including 10 after intermission to fuel a second-half comeback, but a late bucket by Utah State's Garry Clark helped the Aggies hold off the Rams Friday night.
 
OPENING TIP

• Lewis, playing in just his second collegiate game, knocked down 7-of-13 attempts from the floor, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range, to lead four Rams in double figures
• Senior guard Jadrian Tracey provided 16 points and three assists for the Black and Gold
• Junior guard Tyrell Ward, who returned from an ankle injury to make his season debut, supplied 11 points off the bench for the Rams, while sophomore guard Ahmad Nowell, chipped in 12
• Senior forward Barry Evans contributed five points, eight rebounds, six assists and a block to the VCU cause
• MJ Collins led all players with 22 points to spark the Aggies

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Rams battled back from an 18-point deficit with 12 minutes remaining to tie the game at 76-76 on a steal and layup by Ward with 34 seconds left. That bucket capped a furious 14-1 VCU run that included seven straight points by Lewis. On Utah State's ensuing possession, Collins laid in an offensive rebound with 15 ticks on the clock to give the Aggies the lead for good. The Rams split a pair of free throws on their next possession and Collins knocked down a pair at the charity stripe moments later keep VCU at bay
• VCU trailed 64-46 following a 3-pointer Mason Falslev with 11:28 remaining. But the Rams would not go away. VCU responded with an 8-0 run, capped by a stick back by junior forward Michael Belle, to trim the margin to 10. The Aggies maintained their lead until Ward sparked a dramatic final push by the Rams with five straight points to cut the lead to 75-67 with 2:51 showing
• Utah State shot 48 percent (28-of-58) in the contest, including 59 percent (17-of-29) in the first half as they built a 45-36 lead at the break. The Aggies connected on 6-of-13 (46 percent) from three
• The Aggies outscored the Rams off turnovers 22-19 and on second-chance opportunities 20-10

NEXT UP
VCU will return home to face St. Peter's on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. That game will air on MASN and ESPN+.