RAMS BUCKLE DOWN, POWER PAST RADFORD IN SECOND HALF
The short story: Led by Graduate forward Brandon Johns Jr.'s 18 points and a 23-5 second-half run, VCU pulled away from Radford in the second half to secure its second straight victory.
OPENING TIP
- Johns was 6-of-9 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line to lead VCU
- Sophomore forward Jalen Deloach notched 15 points, one shy of tying his career-high. He's reached double figures in three straight games
- Junior guard Ace Baldwin Jr. followed closely behind in his first game back from a wrist injury with 10 points and six assists help round out VCU's offense
- Redshirt-sophomore Jamir Watkins controlled the boards for VCU with a career-high 11 rebounds
- The Rams used their strong defense to help propel them to victory. VCU held Radford to a season-worst 39 percent (22-of-57) shooting effort from the field
- The Highlanders were led by Ken Giles who scored 13 points and Daquan Smith, who scored 11
- VCU trailed by as many as eight points in the second half, at 40-32 with 15:10 remaining. But the Rams used a 23-5 blitz over a six-minute span to take command. DeLoach converted a go-ahead layup at the 9:52 mark, and Baldwin buried a pull-up 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to give the Rams a 49-45 edge with 9:20 remaining. Johns followed with four straight points to make it 53-45 with 7:20 showing
- VCU led by as many as five points in the first half but Radford managed to take a 28-26 lead into intermission
- VCU shot 49 percent (22-of-45) from the floor in the game, including 67 percent (12-of-18) in the second half
- Radford cut the lead down to six points with 30 seconds remaining thanks to a Ken Giles 3-pointer but VCU managed to convert all four of its free throw opportunities down the stretch to shore up the victory
Alerts Sign-up