The Rams used a dominant first half and strong overall defensive effort to win their sixth-straight game, defeating Rhode Island 68-52 tonight.
VCU stormed out to a 20-point halftime lead, holding the Rhode Island Rams to 25% first half shooting. The black and gold Rams shot 45.5% in the first half before struggling to connect in the second, shooting 20.7% to finish the game but held Rhodie to 31 second half points.
No Ram played over 24 minutes as VCU was able to rest their players heading into a big road game at Saint Joseph’s this Saturday. Rob Brandenberg played that max amount of minutes, but it was fellow senior, Juvonte Reddic, who led all a scorers with 14 points and posted yet another double-double by adding 11 rebounds in the win. VCU leading scorer, Treveon Graham, posted 10 points of his own in just 22 minutes and fellow swingman Jordan Burgess added 11 in 20 minutes of action.
Freshman JeQuan Lewis impressed off the bench once again, scoring eight points on 3-of-6 shooting in 16 minutes for the Rams. He was matched by fellow freshman Mo Alie-Cox who posted eight of his own and added four rebounds.
The black and gold out-rebounded URI 44-40 and forced 20 turnovers in the win.
VCU moves to 19-4 on the season and 7-1 in conference play. Coach Smart and Co. will take on Saint Joseph’s Saturday at 8PM before returning home to the Stu next Wednesday for a rematch with the GW team that handed the Rams their only A-10 loss of the season thus far.
Five of the Rams final eight games are away from the Siegel Center.
VCU v Rhode Island from VCU Ram Nation on Vimeo.
