Score: VCU 89, Loyola Chicago 75
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 16-6 (7-2 Atlantic 10), LUC 5-18 (1-9)
Attendance: 7,637 (Sellout)
 
The Short Story: Sophomore guard Terrence Hill Jr. scored a career-high 24 points to lead a strong performance by VCU's bench as the Rams overcome a sluggish start and raced past Loyola Chicago Friday night at the Siegel Center.
 
OPENING TIP

• Hill knocked down 5-of-9 attempts from beyond the 3-point line, as well as 7-of-7 at the charity stripe. He added six rebounds and five assists
• VCU junior guard Tyrell Ward tied a season-high with 15 points as he shot 5-of-7 from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc in 24 minutes of action
• Redshirt senior forward Jadrian Tracey added 14 points and three rebounds for the Black and Gold, while junior forward Michael Belle rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field
• Loyola Chicago center Miles Rubin recorded his sixth double-double on the season with a career-high 21 points and 10 rebounds

THE DIFFERENCE

• The Ramblers burst out the gates with the first eight points in the game and held a 24-9 lead at the midpoint of the first half following a tip-in by Rubin
• Loyola led 35-21 with 6:25 remaining in the first half, but Hill and Ward scored nine points each to fuel a 25-11 VCU to send the teams into the break tied at 46-46
• Tracey knocked down a 3-pointer and senior forward Barry Evans recorded a pair of buckets as VCU kicked off the second half with a 13-6 burst that gave the Rams a 59-52 lead with 16:01 left. VCU would not trail again
• VCU did not record an offensive rebound and were outrebounded 22-8 in the first half. However, the Rams flipped the script in the second half by adding 11 offensive boards and outrebounding Loyola Chicago 24-14
• The Rams bench outscored Loyola's 51-15
• VCU knocked down 24-of-29 free throws in the contest 

NOTABLE

• Friday's 15-point deficit is the largest the Rams have overcome to win a game this season
• Friday's game was the fourth this season where the Rams scored 50+ bench points. On the season, VCU is averaging 37.7 bench points per game
• Hill's 24 points were the most by a Ram this season
• Sophomore guard Brandon Jennings tied a career-high with four steals and stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, four rebounds, and three assists for VCU 

NEXT UP
VCU travels north to take on Fordham on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.