Score: New Mexico 81, VCU 78
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 6-4, New Mexico 8-2
Attendance: 7,637 (Sellout)
 
The short story: Sophomore guard Brandon Jennings turned in an all-around performance to spark VCU, but it wasn't enough for the Rams to overcome a late charge by New Mexico Wednesday night at the Siegel Center.
 
OPENING TIP

• Jennings stuffed the box score with 13 points, six assists, five rebounds, four steals and three blocks to bolster the Black and Gold. He converted all nine of his free throw attempts and was one of four Rams to score in double figures
• Freshman guard Nyk Lewis led the Rams with 14 points, going 3-of-7 from three and added three rebounds
• VCU junior forward Lazar Djokovic followed with 13 points and five rebounds
• Jadrian Tracey added 12 points to the VCU cause and shot 6-of-7 from the charity stripe
• Michael Belle and Terrence Hill Jr. combined for 18 points off the VCU bench, with Hill Jr. knocking down a pair of 3-pointers and finishing with nine points, while Belle shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and pulled down a season-high seven rebounds
• Freshman Jake Hall led the Lobos with a career-high 24 points, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc

THE DIFFERENCE

• New Mexico's shot 50 percent from the floor (27-of-54) and 44 percent from three (8-of-18). VCU shot 39 percent from the field and 27 percent (7-of-26) from 3-point range
• The Rams led 65-61 midway through the second half before New Mexico responded with a 14-0 run to go up 75-65. VCU answered with a 10-0 run of their own to tie it 75-75 with 4:45 remaining. But the Lobos got a go-ahead three by Hall on a broken play with 2:40 remaining and never surrendered the lead again. The Rams had three chances down the stretch to tie the game or take the lead, but could not convert
• New Mexico's bench edged VCU's 21-18, led by JT Rock and Uriah Tenette combining for 15
• The Lobos knocked down 19-of-22 attempts at the free throw line (86 percent), while VCU connected on 23-of-28 (82 percent)

NOTABLE

• The Rams outrebounded New Mexico 37-33 and grabbed 17 offensive rebounds
• VCU shot a season-high 82 percent at the line
• Jennings went 9-for-9 from the line. Jennings is the second Ram this season to go 100% from the line with at least five attempts, with the other coming from Terrence Hill Jr., who went 5-for-5 against USF

NEXT UP
The Rams will remain home and host Niagara on Monday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The contest will air on MASN and ESPN+.