[caption id="attachment_15624" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://www.vcuramnation.com/2015/12/recap-vcu-unable-to-claw-past-bearcats/screen-shot-2015-12-19-at-6-08-26-pm/" rel="attachment wp-att-15624"><img src="https://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Screen-Shot-2015-12-19-at-6.08.26-PM-300x173.png" alt="Hamdy finishes for the AND1 opportunity." width="300" height="173" class="size-medium wp-image-15624" /></a> Hamdy finishes for the AND1 opportunity.[/caption]
It felt like way too long since VCU last played at the Siegel Center and Ram Nation welcomed the team back Saturday afternoon as VCU hosted the 20th ranked Cincinnati Bearcats. After missing opportunities to get some strong out of conference wins under their belt earlier this season, the Rams wouldn't let this chance go by without a fight but would eventually lose the battle, 69-63.
VCU managed to keep it close, trailing at half by only 2, 33-31 and would cut the Bearcats lead to just 2 points with 2:30 left in the 2nd half after two free throws from Junior Mo Alie-Cox. Cincinatti's largest lead of the night would be 10.
Cincinatti has been a top 25 team all season and tonight ram fans would see why first hand. The Bearcats did their homework as they would limit VCU's leading scorer, senior Melvin Johnson, to just 2 points on the night. Johnson would struggle from the field shooting 0-10 from the field and 0-4 from behind the arc.
Instead VCU found most of their points from senior Korey Billbury. He led all Rams in scoring with 22 points. He would shoot 7-15 on the night and would grab 9 rebounds. Sophomore Michael Gilmore would provide a spark for VCU scoring 9 points. He found his stroke from behind the arch, hitting 2-3. Alie-Cox would end the night with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
It was not a pretty shooting night for either team but efficiency was key for Cincinatti tonight. They would get 30 of their points from the charity stripe. They took 35 free throws in total.
VCU moves to 5-5 on the season and will host Buffalo on Tuesday, December 22nd at 7pm.
It felt like way too long since VCU last played at the Siegel Center and Ram Nation welcomed the team back Saturday afternoon as VCU hosted the 20th ranked Cincinnati Bearcats. After missing opportunities to get some strong out of conference wins under their belt earlier this season, the Rams wouldn't let this chance go by without a fight but would eventually lose the battle, 69-63.
VCU managed to keep it close, trailing at half by only 2, 33-31 and would cut the Bearcats lead to just 2 points with 2:30 left in the 2nd half after two free throws from Junior Mo Alie-Cox. Cincinatti's largest lead of the night would be 10.
Cincinatti has been a top 25 team all season and tonight ram fans would see why first hand. The Bearcats did their homework as they would limit VCU's leading scorer, senior Melvin Johnson, to just 2 points on the night. Johnson would struggle from the field shooting 0-10 from the field and 0-4 from behind the arc.
Instead VCU found most of their points from senior Korey Billbury. He led all Rams in scoring with 22 points. He would shoot 7-15 on the night and would grab 9 rebounds. Sophomore Michael Gilmore would provide a spark for VCU scoring 9 points. He found his stroke from behind the arch, hitting 2-3. Alie-Cox would end the night with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
It was not a pretty shooting night for either team but efficiency was key for Cincinatti tonight. They would get 30 of their points from the charity stripe. They took 35 free throws in total.
VCU moves to 5-5 on the season and will host Buffalo on Tuesday, December 22nd at 7pm.
