Score: VCU 77, La Salle 68
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. (Glaser Arena)
Records: VCU 19-6 (10-2 Atlantic 10), La Salle 7-18 (3-9)
 
The short story: Junior forward Lazar Djokovic poured in a career-high 26 points and VCU held off pesky La Salle on the road for its eighth straight victory Wednesday night in Philadelphia.
 
OPENING TIP

• Djokovic converted 10-of-17 attempts from the floor, including his only 3-point attempt of the night, on the way to his third 20-point performance of the season. He added eight rebounds and a block
• Freshman guard Nyk Lewis scored 11 points and hauled in 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. He also dished out four assists
• Senior Jadrian Tracey and sophomore Terrence Hill Jr. kicked in 14 points each for the Black and Gold
• Rob Dockery led La Salle with 17 points 

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU shot 48 percent (29-of-60) in the contest and held the Explorers to 39 percent (24-of-61) from the floor, including 4-of-19 from 3-point range
• Behind Djokovic, the Rams carved out a 40-32 advantage in points in the paint
• La Salle used a 10-0 run to briefly take a 31-29 lead with 2:52 left in the first half. But the Black and Gold closed the period on an 8-0 run, six from Djokovic, to take a 37-31 lead into the locker room. VCU would not trail again and would lead by as many as 13 in the second half. The Explorers did manage to cut the Rams' lead to 71-66 with 2:40 remaining, but Djokovic answered with a bucket and Hill knocked down 4-of-4 free throws down the stretch to keep La Salle at bay
• VCU outrebounded La Salle 43-33, and the Rams came up with 16 offensive boards in the game

NOTABLE

• VCU has won 11 straight games against La Salle, a streak that dates back to the 2015-16 season. The Rams are 15-2 all-time against the Explorers
• VCU led for 33:27 of Wednesday's contest
• Junior forward Michael Belle blocked a career-high four shots for VCU. He also supplied a bucket and seven rebounds

NEXT UP
VCU will head across town to face Richmond in this season's second edition of the Richmond Area Honda Dealers Capital City Classic on Saturday, Feb. 14. That contest will tip-off at 6 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.