<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/image.img_.jpeg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-10381" alt="Juvonte Reddic, Jake Barnett" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/image.img_-300x194.jpeg" width="300" height="194" /></a>VCU was outscored by 17 in the first half of last night's battle for first place in the A-10, eventually falling at St. Louis 76-62.
It was the Rams worse loss of the season and will likely cost VCU their recent national ranking. The Rams came into the game as the No.24 team in both polls after winning their previous five games.
VCU came out ice cold in the first half, scoring just nine points about 16 minutes into the game, hitting just 3 of their first 22 attempts to start the game.
Unable to hit shots to setup the press, the Rams havoc defense was a non-factor. VCU forced just eight turnovers on the night, matching a season low all the way back on November 23rd in a 67-58 loss against Duke.
Treveon Graham had a rough night against the A-10's stingiest defense. Graham finished with an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double but was just 4-of-16 from the floor.
Juvonte Reddic was the lone bright spot for VCU. The junior forward posted a game-high 19 points to go along with 12 rebounds in the loss.
Freshman Melvin Johnson posted his third-straight double-digit game, scoring 10 points but getting six of those from two 3-pointers when the game was far out of reach in the final 48 seconds of play.
The loss drops VCU (21-6, 9-3)  a half a game behind St. Louis (20-5, 9-2) in the A-10 standings, good for a tie with the No.15 Butler Bulldogs (22-5, 9-3) who will host SLU in a rematch this Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The then No.9 Bulldogs found similar difficulty in their first trip to St. Louis, falling 75-58 back in January.
Despite the lopsided loss, VCU's RPI stood still at a respectable 36.
VCU will prepare for yet another difficult road trip, taking on Xavier (14-10, 7-4) against what's expected to be a capacity crowd in Xavier's 10,250-seat Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
The Rams will get a week to rest after Saturday's showdown at Xavier, returning to the Siegel Center the following Saturday for a sold-out home tip against No.15 Butler.
It was the Rams worse loss of the season and will likely cost VCU their recent national ranking. The Rams came into the game as the No.24 team in both polls after winning their previous five games.
VCU came out ice cold in the first half, scoring just nine points about 16 minutes into the game, hitting just 3 of their first 22 attempts to start the game.
Unable to hit shots to setup the press, the Rams havoc defense was a non-factor. VCU forced just eight turnovers on the night, matching a season low all the way back on November 23rd in a 67-58 loss against Duke.
Treveon Graham had a rough night against the A-10's stingiest defense. Graham finished with an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double but was just 4-of-16 from the floor.
Juvonte Reddic was the lone bright spot for VCU. The junior forward posted a game-high 19 points to go along with 12 rebounds in the loss.
Freshman Melvin Johnson posted his third-straight double-digit game, scoring 10 points but getting six of those from two 3-pointers when the game was far out of reach in the final 48 seconds of play.
The loss drops VCU (21-6, 9-3)  a half a game behind St. Louis (20-5, 9-2) in the A-10 standings, good for a tie with the No.15 Butler Bulldogs (22-5, 9-3) who will host SLU in a rematch this Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The then No.9 Bulldogs found similar difficulty in their first trip to St. Louis, falling 75-58 back in January.
Despite the lopsided loss, VCU's RPI stood still at a respectable 36.
VCU will prepare for yet another difficult road trip, taking on Xavier (14-10, 7-4) against what's expected to be a capacity crowd in Xavier's 10,250-seat Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
The Rams will get a week to rest after Saturday's showdown at Xavier, returning to the Siegel Center the following Saturday for a sold-out home tip against No.15 Butler.
