Story Links
Score: No. 1 VCU 79, No. 8 St. Bonaventure 56
Location: Washington, D.C. (Capital One Arena)
Records: VCU 26-6, St. Bonaventure 22-11
Schedule Note: Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals
The short story: Jack Clark scored 17 points including a 3-pointer that kick started a 9-0 VCU run and gave the Rams an insurmountable 60-45 lead with 6:45 left in its A-10 Quarterfinal win Friday afternoon.
OPENING TIP
Clark led VCU with 17 points, shooting an efficient 6-of-11 from the field. He also grabbed six boards
Zeb Jackson, the A-10 Sixth Man of the Year, scored 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting
Brandon Jennings scored a career-high 12 points, going a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range in just 15 minutes of action
Joe Bamisile was the fourth Ram in double figures with 13 points
Michael Belle grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, one shy of his career high
Melvin Council, Jr. led the Bonnies with 19 points and nine rebounds
THE DIFFERENCE
VCU outscored St. Bonaventure 21-6 in points off turnovers with the Rams taking advantage of 13 Bonnies turnovers while only committing seven.
The Rams also owned a 30-5 advantage in bench points and a 38-26 edge in points in the paint
VCU led just 27-23 with 3:24 left in the first half before using a 7-0 run capped off by a Clark layup to help build a 36-26 halftime advantage
The Bonnies cut into VCU’s lead twice in the second half, getting within 43-38 with 13:36 left. VCU immediately answered with a Jennings 3-pointer as part of a 5-0 burst
VCU only allowed St. Bonaventure to get as close as the 51-45 deficit for the remainder of the contest as the 9-0 run broke the game open
NOTABLE
Max Shulga surpassed 1,000 points in a VCU uniform, becoming the 40th Ram to achieve the milestone
VCU’s seven turnovers were the second-fewest this season, with the Rams committing six also in a win over St. Bonaventure back on Jan. 24
The Rams have won each of their last three A-10 Quarterfinals matchups
NEXT UP
The Rams face No. 4 seed Loyola Chicago at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.