Following its 17-point win over Saint Bonaventure yesterday, one-seed VCU (27-6, 15-3 A-10) matched up against four-seed Loyola Chicago (22-11, 12-6 A-10) in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. VCU won the tightly-fought contest 62-55 to advance to its second straight A-10 championship game.
Loyola Chicago stuck first with a 3 from junior guard Jayden Dawson before VCU graduate forward Jack Clark answered with a transition layup.
The opening 10 minutes saw both teams size each other up, with three lead changes and VCU only mustering a four-point lead.
VCU remained in control but could do little to build momentum before making five straight shots with the first half winding down, extending the lead to 12 on the back of a 14-2 run.
VCU graduate guard Phillip Russell hit two 3s during this run while also acting as a disruptor on defense, something he has done consistently throughout the season.
The Rams rode this newfound momentum into halftime, leading 36-27. Russell scored 10 points on 75% shooting in the half, while VCU graduate guard Max Shulga contributed seven points with a team-leading five rebounds.
VCU improved its quarterfinal shooting numbers in the first half, hitting 50% overall and 39% from 3 while holding Loyola Chicago to 31% overall and 29% from 3.
VCU came crashing down to start the second half, however.
Both Loyola Chicago and VCU found little success offensively halfway through the second. VCU only scored three field goals in the opening 10 minutes, while Loyola Chicago scored only four.
VCU freshman forward Luke Bamgboye hit two consecutive close shots before Loyola Chicago found its footing and made its move.
Loyola Chicago rapidly retook the lead in five minutes on the back of sophomore center Miles Rubin, who scored eight points and grabbed two offensive rebounds during this span.
VCU took a timeout following the lead change to draw something up and regain momentum.
Coming out of the timeout, Rams graduate guard Zeb Jackson flew into the paint before finishing with a strong dunk to swiftly regain control.
“We had a play that we had drawn up and it worked perfectly,” Jackson said. “I was able to kind of just see the lane to the rim.”
VCU capitalized on this dunk as it went on a 9-0 run and did not allow Loyola Chicago to take the lead again for the remainder of the game.
The Rams’ defense went into overdrive to end the game, preventing the Ramblers from converting a single field goal in the final five minutes and scraping out a closely fought win.
VCU struggled on the boards despite the win, being outscored 17-4 on second-chance points and being outrebounded 48-38.
“They were giving us a taste of our own medicine from an offensive rebounding standpoint, and that kind of happened throughout the game,” VCU coach Ryan Odom said.
Additionally, the Rams second-half shooting left a lot to be desired, as they shot 9% from 3 to finish at 25% for the game. The overall shooting also dipped, with the Rams finishing at 43% from the field.
Shulga led in points (14) and rebounds (10), finishing the game with a double-double despite his poor shooting numbers.
“I’m just trying to impact the game, just everywhere, in any way I can,” Shulga said.
VCU will play in the A-10 Conference Tournament championship against George Mason at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
