Score: Dayton 79, VCU 76
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 25-6 (15-3 Atlantic 10), Dayton 22-9 (12-6)
Attendance: 7,637 (Sellout)
 
The short story: Graduate guard Joe Bamisile scored all 18 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to help fuel a late comeback attempt, but VCU fell just short Friday night at the Siegel Center.
 
OPENING TIP

• Bamisile knocked down 8-of-14 attempts from the field and grabbed eight rebounds
• Max Shulga added 16 points and led the Rams with nine total rebounds, four of which came on the offensive glass. Shulga knocked down 9-of-10 free throw attempts as well
• Guard Zeb Jackson jolted the Rams in the first half, scoring 13 of VCU's 27 first half points. Jackson finished the contest with 16 points and added three rebounds
• Javon Bennett scored 22 points to lead the Flyers

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Rams made 5-of-30 attempts from beyond the arc compared to Dayton's 9-of-23 shooting from three-point range. VCU's 17 percent shooting from distance marked their lowest of the season since they dropped their road contest at Saint Louis on Jan. 14
• VCU owned a 41-33 total rebound advantage over the Flyers, with a 19-11 advantage in offensive rebounds. The rebounding edge led to the Black and Gold notching 16 second-chance points compared to Dayton's 11
• The Flyers started the contest on an 16-5 run before the Rams mounted a 17-7 run of their own to make it a 23-22 game with 3:12 remaining in the first half
• Bennet knocked down an and-one three-pointer and made the free throw with 1:39 remaining in the game to extend the Flyers' lead to eight at 72-64 with 2:11 remaining. The Rams then rallied their own 14-7 run to bring the game within one with six seconds remaining
• VCU had one final look at the final horn, but a contested 3-pointer did not fall

NOTABLE

• VCU saw its nine-game win streak snapped Friday. The Rams are 19-11 all-time against the Flyers
• Graduate guard Phillip Russell missed the contest due to an ankle injury he sustained against Duquesne on Tuesday
• VCU has clinched a share the A-10 regular season crown, as well as the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming conference tournament. The Rams can win the regular season title outright with a George Mason loss Saturday against Richmond

NEXT UP
The Rams own the one seed in the A-10 Tournament, which begins Wednesday, March 12. VCU is scheduled to play Friday, March 14 at 11:30 a.m., and the game will be broadcast on USA Network.