Score: VCU 71, Old Dominion 57 (Exhibition)
Location: Norfolk, Va. (Chartway Arena)
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The short story: Senior forward
Lazar Djokovic poured in 22 points as VCU built a big first-half lead on the way to win the Rams' exhibition opener Saturday night in Norfolk.
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OPENING TIP
- Djokovic knocked down 6-of-11 attempts from the field, including 3-of-6 from beyond the 3-point line for the Black and Gold. He also converted 7-of-7 at the free throw line
- Junior guard Ahmad Nowell supplied 17 points off the bench for VCU. He buried 5-of-8 from beyond the 3-point line
- Junior wing Blake Harper, making his VCU debut, added 10 points in 21 minutes
- Bubu Benjamin paced the Monarchs with 14 pointsÂ
THE DIFFERENCE
- Djokovic erupted for 14 of VCU's first 20 points in the game. His hot shooting also helped fuel a 17-2 Rams run midway through the first half that gave VCU a 30-13 advantage
- Later in the first half, Nowell connected on three straight 3-pointers as the Rams' lead grew to as many as 18
- VCU shot .481 (13-of-27) in the opening period, including 7-of-14 from 3-point range, and took a 41-23 lead into intermission. The Monarchs shot just .261 (6-of-23) in the first half, including 0-of-7 from beyond the arc
- VCU's bench outscored ODU's 33-7Â
NOTABLE
Saturday's game was the first of any kind between the Rams and Monarchs since the 2021-22 season. They had met 97 times previously in the regular season
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NEXT UP
VCU will host James Madison in its final exhibition contest at the Stuart C. Siegel Center on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.
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