VCU (9-3) needed a strong second-half to finally ground the Warhawks of visiting University of Louisiana-Monroe, 78-65.
The Rams trailed for just over 14 minutes of the first half and were only able to capture the lead once off a Jordan Burgess (9pts) 3 pointer to make it a 9-6 ball game.
The Rams faced multiple scoring droughts in the first half which led to ULM’s eventual 7 point lead.
JeQuan Lewis would use back-to-back three pointers to bring the Rams within 2 points with 3:09 left in the first half.
Burgess would get the only dunk of the half for VCU just before the halftime buzzer, and the Rams took a two point deficit into the locker room, 34-32.
Mo Alie-Cox (16pts, 5reb, 3blk) hit a layup in the paint to break a 9-0 run for ULM to start the second half. Alie-Cox would score 14 of his 16 points after the intermission.
Doug Brooks (15pts, 6ast, 4stl) used an explosive second-half shooting performance to connect on 3 three-pointers over three minutes to put the Rams ahead 50-46. He would end the night shooting 5-6 from deep for 83% efficiency.
Lewis (6) and Brooks (4) would combine for 10 of VCU’s 14 steals on the night. The Warhawks would turn the ball over 22 times in total.
The Rams return to action Tuesday, December 27th for a 7:00pm tip-off against Howard.
This will be VCU’s final out-of-conference contest before A10 play begins on December 30.
