RICHMOND, Va. – No. 25 VCU saw its nine-game winning streak snapped in heartbreaking fashion on Senior Night, as the Rams fell 79-76 to Dayton in a tightly contested battle at the Siegel Center.
VCU clawed back into the game with an 8-2 run to pull within 18-13 at the 7:51 mark. Despite struggling from deep (2-15 3PT in the first half), the Rams found success at the free-throw line, going 9-13 FT to keep pace with the Flyers. Jackson led all scorers with 13 first-half points, nearly half of VCU’s total as they trailed 28-27 at the break.
VCU seized its first lead of the night at the 19:00 mark when Max Shulga (16 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST) found Joe Bamisile (18 PTS, 8 REB) for a fast-break dunk. The Rams’ defensive intensity picked up, but Dayton’s efficiency in the paint kept them within striking distance.
A Zeb Jackson three-pointer at 11:06 briefly put VCU back in front, but the lead changed hands multiple times. Jack Clark (15 PTS, 6 REB) gave the Rams their largest lead of the night, 53-50, on a pull-up jumper with 8:15 remaining.
However, Dayton answered with clutch outside shooting. A four-point play with 2:11 to go gave the Flyers an eight-point cushion. VCU fought back, with Zeb Jackson forcing a turnover with eight seconds left, setting up Joe Bamisile at the free-throw line with a chance to tie. Bamisile missed the first but made the second, and Dayton sealed the game at the stripe. Shulga had a chance to force overtime at the buzzer, but his three-pointer rattled out as time expired.
First Half
The Flyers came out hot, racing to an 8-0 lead before Zeb Jackson (16 PTS, 3 REB, 2 STL) got VCU on the board with a finger-roll layup at 17:39. Jackson continued to will the Rams forward, singlehandedly breaking a five-minute scoring drought with a tough layup through contact, a fast-break dunk off his own steal, and two free throws—scoring six straight points in a one-minute span.VCU clawed back into the game with an 8-2 run to pull within 18-13 at the 7:51 mark. Despite struggling from deep (2-15 3PT in the first half), the Rams found success at the free-throw line, going 9-13 FT to keep pace with the Flyers. Jackson led all scorers with 13 first-half points, nearly half of VCU’s total as they trailed 28-27 at the break.
Second Half
VCU seized its first lead of the night at the 19:00 mark when Max Shulga (16 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST) found Joe Bamisile (18 PTS, 8 REB) for a fast-break dunk. The Rams’ defensive intensity picked up, but Dayton’s efficiency in the paint kept them within striking distance.
A Zeb Jackson three-pointer at 11:06 briefly put VCU back in front, but the lead changed hands multiple times. Jack Clark (15 PTS, 6 REB) gave the Rams their largest lead of the night, 53-50, on a pull-up jumper with 8:15 remaining.
However, Dayton answered with clutch outside shooting. A four-point play with 2:11 to go gave the Flyers an eight-point cushion. VCU fought back, with Zeb Jackson forcing a turnover with eight seconds left, setting up Joe Bamisile at the free-throw line with a chance to tie. Bamisile missed the first but made the second, and Dayton sealed the game at the stripe. Shulga had a chance to force overtime at the buzzer, but his three-pointer rattled out as time expired.
By the Numbers
- Lead Changes: 12
- Times Tied: 4
- Three-Point Shooting: VCU 5-30 (16.7%), Dayton 9-23 (39.1%)
- Free Throws: VCU 25-31 (80.6%), Dayton 14-16 (87.5%)
- Rebounding: VCU 41 (19 offensive), Dayton 32 (11 offensive)
- Points in the Paint: VCU 34, Dayton 38
- Second Chance Points: VCU 16, Dayton 11
- Fast Break Points: VCU 18, Dayton 5
- Assists: VCU 8, Dayton 18 (Rams’ assist total was low due to heavy reliance on free throws)
