The battle for first place in the A10 delivered on all fronts as VCU (18-6; 9-2 A10) travelled to St. Louis and handed the Billikens a 73-65 loss.
The top two point guards in the conference facing each other head-to-head, with sole possession of first place on the line.
But, make no mistakes, this will be THE Ace Baldwin Jr. game.
Baldwin scored not only a game-high, but a new career high with 37 points in 38 minutes of play.
Those 37 points came on an incredibly efficient 12-15 shooting overall (80%), including four of his five attempts from long range, and a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.
The Rams needed ever single one of those points as the game saw 16 lead changes, and 11 ties.
A hook shot from Jalen DeLoach with just over two minutes left in the game gave the Rams their largest lead of the night at 7 points.
DeLoach recorded his fourth double-double of the season with a 13 point and 11 rebound performance.
A turnover by the Billikens and then a Flagrant-1 foul would lead to two free throws for Baldwin as well as possession of the ball for VCU.
The Rams would comfortably close the game out on the free throw line.
Baldwin outscored the entire rest of the Rams offense, 37-36 for the night.
But that isn't to say he did it alone.
Brandon Johns Jr. chipped in 15 points on 70% shooting and added 6 rebounds as well.
VCU has now won two straight on the road, and eight of their last nine games.
The Rams will return to action as they head back home to take on the Dayton Flyers. That game is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7th and will tip off at 7:00pm ET.
The top two point guards in the conference facing each other head-to-head, with sole possession of first place on the line.
But, make no mistakes, this will be THE Ace Baldwin Jr. game.
Baldwin scored not only a game-high, but a new career high with 37 points in 38 minutes of play.
Those 37 points came on an incredibly efficient 12-15 shooting overall (80%), including four of his five attempts from long range, and a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.
The Rams needed ever single one of those points as the game saw 16 lead changes, and 11 ties.
A hook shot from Jalen DeLoach with just over two minutes left in the game gave the Rams their largest lead of the night at 7 points.
DeLoach recorded his fourth double-double of the season with a 13 point and 11 rebound performance.
A turnover by the Billikens and then a Flagrant-1 foul would lead to two free throws for Baldwin as well as possession of the ball for VCU.
The Rams would comfortably close the game out on the free throw line.
Baldwin outscored the entire rest of the Rams offense, 37-36 for the night.
But that isn't to say he did it alone.
Brandon Johns Jr. chipped in 15 points on 70% shooting and added 6 rebounds as well.
VCU has now won two straight on the road, and eight of their last nine games.
The Rams will return to action as they head back home to take on the Dayton Flyers. That game is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7th and will tip off at 7:00pm ET.
