VCU (11-4, 2-0) used an momentum filled second half to fight back the Explorers of La Salle en route to a, 69-63, victory.
Finish what you started. A tale of two-halves. That's why you play 40 minutes. All the things that are pretty to say on paper, but VCU fought tooth-and-nail to overcome an 18 point deficit.
The first half was all La Salle, as the Explorers opened the game on a 6-0 run and held that lead until the 8:58 mark of the second half, when Marcus Evans hit a free throw to take the first lead of the game for the Rams.
Evans scored all 12 of his points in the second half of the match after being held scoreless in the first 20 minutes. The point guard also contributed a game-high 8 rebounds.
The Explorers shot an impressive 43% in the first half as they extended their lead against the Rams, but after a 8-29 shooting performance in the second half, ended with only 35% connection rate overall.
The Rams, were almost the mirror inverse, as they shot 29% in the first half and 44% in the second for an overall 37% on 20-53 shooting.
About the only thing that did go right for the Rams in the first half was the free throw shooting which was a perfect 10-10 from the stripe.
It was the three pointer by De'Riante Jenkins with 4 seconds left on the game-clock before halftime that started the change of tides for the Rams.
That basket would pull the Rams to within a 9 point—three possession—game with halftime and 20 more minutes to play in front of them.
Jenkins netted a  game-high 15 points to go along with 4 rebounds in nearly 30 minutes of play.
La Salle's Pookie Powell and Isiah Deas also accrued 15 points on that night.
The Rams used a 12-2 run early in the second half to pull within 1 point.
Just a few minutes later an 8-0 run would give the Rams the first lead of the game. Six of those points came from the free throw line, with three coming from Marcus Santos-Silva.
Santo-Silva would end the night with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.
During a nearly seven minute stretch late in the game, La Salle, turned the ball over 6 times—they would have 20 total turnovers on the evening. VCU ended the night with 18 turnovers.
Isaac Vann was the only other Ram to enter double-digit scoring on the evening with 12 points and 4 rebounds.
This marks 4 wins in a row for VCU.
The Rams return to action Saturday, January 12 as they travel to Davidson and look to continue their winning streak.
That game is set to tip at 2pm EST.
Finish what you started. A tale of two-halves. That's why you play 40 minutes. All the things that are pretty to say on paper, but VCU fought tooth-and-nail to overcome an 18 point deficit.
The first half was all La Salle, as the Explorers opened the game on a 6-0 run and held that lead until the 8:58 mark of the second half, when Marcus Evans hit a free throw to take the first lead of the game for the Rams.
Evans scored all 12 of his points in the second half of the match after being held scoreless in the first 20 minutes. The point guard also contributed a game-high 8 rebounds.
The Explorers shot an impressive 43% in the first half as they extended their lead against the Rams, but after a 8-29 shooting performance in the second half, ended with only 35% connection rate overall.
The Rams, were almost the mirror inverse, as they shot 29% in the first half and 44% in the second for an overall 37% on 20-53 shooting.
About the only thing that did go right for the Rams in the first half was the free throw shooting which was a perfect 10-10 from the stripe.
It was the three pointer by De'Riante Jenkins with 4 seconds left on the game-clock before halftime that started the change of tides for the Rams.
That basket would pull the Rams to within a 9 point—three possession—game with halftime and 20 more minutes to play in front of them.
Jenkins netted a  game-high 15 points to go along with 4 rebounds in nearly 30 minutes of play.
La Salle's Pookie Powell and Isiah Deas also accrued 15 points on that night.
The Rams used a 12-2 run early in the second half to pull within 1 point.
Just a few minutes later an 8-0 run would give the Rams the first lead of the game. Six of those points came from the free throw line, with three coming from Marcus Santos-Silva.
Santo-Silva would end the night with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.
During a nearly seven minute stretch late in the game, La Salle, turned the ball over 6 times—they would have 20 total turnovers on the evening. VCU ended the night with 18 turnovers.
Isaac Vann was the only other Ram to enter double-digit scoring on the evening with 12 points and 4 rebounds.
This marks 4 wins in a row for VCU.
The Rams return to action Saturday, January 12 as they travel to Davidson and look to continue their winning streak.
That game is set to tip at 2pm EST.
