Richmond Area Honda Dealers Capital City Classic
Score: VCU 78, Richmond 60
Location: Richmond, Va. (Robins Center)
Records: VCU 23-5 (13-2 Atlantic 10), Richmond 10-19 (5-11)
 
The short story: Graduate guard Max Shulga supplied 16 points to lead four VCU players in double figures as the Rams built a big first-half lead on the way to their seventh straight victory Tuesday night at the Robins Center.
 
OPENING TIP

• Shulga connected on 4-of-6 attempts from the field, including all three of his 3-point attempts for the Black and Gold. He also handed our four assists
• Graduate guard Joe Bamisile added 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists for VCU
• Fellow graduate guards Phillip Russell and Zeb Jackson provided 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Rams. Jackson also contributed six rebounds and three assists
• Dusan Neskovic paced the Spiders with 16 points and four assists

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU shot 70 percent (19-of-27) from the field in the first half, including 10-of-15 from 3-point range, on the way to a 51-33 halftime lead
• Richmond used a 13-0 run, punctuated by a Neskovic 3-pointer, to pull within 63-54 with 6:13 remaining. But VCU responded with two Shulga free throws and a tough putback bucket in traffic by Bamisile to push the lead back to 67-54 with 4:04 left. Shulga added a driving layup and a 3-pointer in the waning moments to keep Richmond at bay
• The Rams shot 56 percent (28-of-50) from the field in the contest, including 46 percent (11-of-24) from beyond the arc
• VCU owned a 34-21 rebounding advantage and outscored the Spiders 30-20 in the paint

NOTABLE

• VCU has won a season-high seven games and 13 of its past 14 overall
• Freshman forward Luke Bamgboye chipped in eight points, five rebounds and two blocked shots for the Rams
• VCU improved to 62-33 all-time against Richmond

NEXT UP
VCU will host Davidson on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. That contest will air nationally on ESPN2.