Marcus Evans scored nine straight points points to put the Rams ahead for the final time as VCU (4-0) defeated former A-10 foe in the Temple Owls, 57-51. It was the fourth straight win for the Rams, and the first loss of the season for the Owls.
The Rams opened the game on 19-2 run, including several highlight reel dunks.
During the run, Isaac Vann, went a perfect 3-3 from the field for 7 points in four minutes of action—including a dunk that came after a Corey Douglas (2pts/4reb) steal at half court that he flipped over his head, and backwards, to De'Riante Jenkins (6pts), who then found Vann for the wide open dunk.
Vann would finish the night with 11 points on 4-9 shooting. He also hit the final two free throws with 13 seconds left in the game to ice the victory for the Rams.
Despite being held scoreless for the first 5:38 minutes of the game, Temple clawed back to a 7 point deficit at the half.
A three pointer by Shizz Alston, Jr (6pts/4reb) gave the Owls their first lead of the game, 39-38, at the 11:01 mark in the second half.
With just over 5 minutes left the Owls held their largest lead of the night, 48-44.
Then Evans took over.
His 9 straight points for the Rams were too much for the Owls to overcome.
The redshirt-junior, Evans, finished the night with a game-high 21 points.
The win secured the Rams a spot in the Championship game of the Legend's Classic at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York.
VCU will face St. John's University on ESPN2 at 7:30PM EST.
The Rams opened the game on 19-2 run, including several highlight reel dunks.
During the run, Isaac Vann, went a perfect 3-3 from the field for 7 points in four minutes of action—including a dunk that came after a Corey Douglas (2pts/4reb) steal at half court that he flipped over his head, and backwards, to De'Riante Jenkins (6pts), who then found Vann for the wide open dunk.
Vann would finish the night with 11 points on 4-9 shooting. He also hit the final two free throws with 13 seconds left in the game to ice the victory for the Rams.
Despite being held scoreless for the first 5:38 minutes of the game, Temple clawed back to a 7 point deficit at the half.
A three pointer by Shizz Alston, Jr (6pts/4reb) gave the Owls their first lead of the game, 39-38, at the 11:01 mark in the second half.
With just over 5 minutes left the Owls held their largest lead of the night, 48-44.
Then Evans took over.
His 9 straight points for the Rams were too much for the Owls to overcome.
The redshirt-junior, Evans, finished the night with a game-high 21 points.
The win secured the Rams a spot in the Championship game of the Legend's Classic at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York.
VCU will face St. John's University on ESPN2 at 7:30PM EST.