VCU shook off a brutal opening stretch and a 15-point first-half deficit to surge past Loyola Chicago, pulling away late for an 89–75 win at the Siegel Center.
The Ramblers opened the night on an 8–0 run as VCU started 0-for-5 from the floor with two early turnovers. Michael Belle finally put the Rams on the board at the free-throw line, and Terrence Hill Jr. buried VCU’s first field goal — a three at the 14:44 mark — to stop the bleeding.
Loyola dominated the interior early, owning a 22–8 rebounding edge, a 24–12 advantage in points in the paint, and a 12–0 margin in second-chance points during the first half. Miles Rubin reached double figures inside the opening 15 minutes as the Ramblers pushed their lead to as many as 15 — the largest home deficit of the season for VCU.
Hill Jr. sparked the comeback, drilling back-to-back threes to cut the margin to 37–29, then hitting his fourth triple and drawing a foul at the 3:20 mark to cap a 7–0 run that pulled the Rams within a single possession. Tyrell Ward tied the game at 44 with a steal and fast break layup, then beat the halftime buzzer with another layup to send the teams into the break knotted at 46.
VCU flipped the script after halftime. Jadrian Tracey scored the first bucket of the second half to give the Rams their first lead of the night, and the momentum never swung back. Tracey followed with back-to-back buckets during a decisive stretch that pushed the lead to 13 at the 8:55 mark.
The Rams closed the game on an 8–0 run, outscoring Loyola 43–29 in the second half while overwhelming the Ramblers on the glass and in transition.
The Ramblers opened the night on an 8–0 run as VCU started 0-for-5 from the floor with two early turnovers. Michael Belle finally put the Rams on the board at the free-throw line, and Terrence Hill Jr. buried VCU’s first field goal — a three at the 14:44 mark — to stop the bleeding.
Loyola dominated the interior early, owning a 22–8 rebounding edge, a 24–12 advantage in points in the paint, and a 12–0 margin in second-chance points during the first half. Miles Rubin reached double figures inside the opening 15 minutes as the Ramblers pushed their lead to as many as 15 — the largest home deficit of the season for VCU.
Hill Jr. sparked the comeback, drilling back-to-back threes to cut the margin to 37–29, then hitting his fourth triple and drawing a foul at the 3:20 mark to cap a 7–0 run that pulled the Rams within a single possession. Tyrell Ward tied the game at 44 with a steal and fast break layup, then beat the halftime buzzer with another layup to send the teams into the break knotted at 46.
VCU flipped the script after halftime. Jadrian Tracey scored the first bucket of the second half to give the Rams their first lead of the night, and the momentum never swung back. Tracey followed with back-to-back buckets during a decisive stretch that pushed the lead to 13 at the 8:55 mark.
The Rams closed the game on an 8–0 run, outscoring Loyola 43–29 in the second half while overwhelming the Ramblers on the glass and in transition.
Key Performances
- Terrence Hill Jr. — 24 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST
- Tyrell Ward — 15 PTS, 3 REB, 2 STL
- Jadrian Tracey — 14 PTS, 3 REB, 1 STL
- Michael Belle — 10 PTS, 1 REB, 2 STL
Team Notes
- VCU outscored Loyola 43–29 in the second half
- Rams held a 24–14 rebounding advantage after halftime
- VCU won second-chance points 13–2 in the second half
- Rams dominated fastbreak scoring 14–1
- VCU finished with 51 bench points
- Hill Jr. and Ward combined for 27 points on 8-for-9 shooting in the first half
- VCU trailed by 15, the largest home deficit of the season
