Following their record-breaking win against Richmond, the VCU Rams carried over their momentum into the 96-66 blowout win against La Salle at The Stuart C. Siegel Center on Tuesday.
The Rams came out of the gate sloppy and lethargic, turning the ball over five times in the opening minutes. The Explorers kept the game close, with it being tied 16-16 halfway through the first.
“La Salle had a lot to do with that,” VCU coach Ryan Odom said. “They were picking up and pressuring us, and we were a little bit off balance there in retreat mode rather than being in attack mode.”
VCU graduate student guard Phillip Russell and freshman guard Brandon Jennings helped stop that by hitting a trifecta of fastbreak 3s on consecutive possessions, allowing VCU to embark on a 13-0 run.
VCU did not allow La Salle to get close again after going up by double digits as it went into halftime up 48-28.
The Rams stifling defense in the first half carried over from the Richmond game, as they held La Salle to 32% from the field and 20% from behind the arc. It was similar offensively for the Rams, who shot 50% from the field and 45% from 3.
The referees ejected La Salle freshman guard Deuce Jones after he received a flagrant two foul for appearing to hit VCU guard Russell early in the second half.
Russell’s teammates said his ability to get under other players’ skin is unmatched.
“What y’all see is 100% him,” VCU redshirt-sophomore guard/forward Alphonzo “Fats” Billups III said.
The Rams wind down the game by going on a 19-0 run over five minutes halfway through the second.
VCU freshman guard Terrence Hill Jr. continued the scoring for the Rams following the run, posting 13 straight points after being subbed in with nine minutes remaining.
“He’s just a really, really good player,” Odom said. “He’s in a tough spot, you know, given the depth in veterans at his position, but he’s always ready when he gets in there.”
The VCU Rams still sit second in the A-10 behind George Mason University at 18-5 and 8-2.
VCU will look to carry over the momentum from its back-to-back big wins as it prepares for a tough two-game road stretch.
The Rams will first play fourth-place Dayton (16-7, 6-4) at 7 p.m. ET Friday at UD Arena. After Saturday’s game, VCU plays ninth-place George Washington University (15-7, 4-5) at the Charles E. Smith Center at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday, Feb. 12.
