Seven games were on tap in the A10 on Saturday. Dayton was idle and is now the only unbeaten team in conference play. Saint Louis bounced back in impressive fashion. Richmond had a furious rally and La Salle needed extra time to get the victory. Loyola and Saint Joseph’s are still looking for their first win.
VCU 89 Davidson 72
Possessions: 71
Offensive efficiency: VCU 125, Davidson 101
Host Rams jumped out to a 17 point lead at intermission. Adrian Baldwin led the way with 18 points, 8 assists. VCU also enjoyed a lights out shooting afternoon from David Shriver with 18 points on 6 of 8 proficiency from downtown. Rams also forced Davidson into 20 turnovers (a 28% rate) and held Foster Loyer to seven points. Davidson Sam Mennenga led all scorers with 20 points.
La Salle 77 Rhode Island 75 (OT)
Possessions: 72
Offensive efficiency: La Salle 107, Rhode Island 104
First A10 win at the alma mater for Fran Dunphy. Khalil Brantley hit a career high 29 points for the Explorers. Jhamir Brickus, a 13 point scorer, hit a crucial three pointer with 31 seconds left in OT to seal the victory. Explorers had an outstanding 10% turnover rate on the afternoon and fought back from a first half double digit deficit. Jalen Carey and Brayon Freeman shared scoring honors with 18 for Rhode Island.
Saint Louis 78 St. Bonaventure 55
Possessions: 64
Offensive efficiency: Saint Louis 122, St. Bona 86
Chad Venning scored a career high 23 points and added six rebounds for the visiting Bonnies. Host Saint Louis had too much balance and answers as they raced out to a 16 point halftime lead. Yuri Collins had an outstanding 11 point, 14 assist double-double for the Bills. Gibson Jimerson paced Saint Louis with 13 points. Billikens did a great defensive job on Daryl Banks, limiting the Bona junior to one point.
George Washington 81 UMass 73
Possessions: 74
Offensive efficiency: George Washington 109, UMass 99
In an uptempo affair the Colonials held off a late UMass rally. GW built a 19 point cushion before Frank Martin’s Minutemen trimmed the deficit to five late in the game. GW would allow the visitors to get no closer and sealed the verdict. James Bishop of GW, reigning A10 Player of the Week, led all scorers with 26. UMass had five players in double digits, Noah Fernandes, TJ Weeks and RJ Luis shared team scoring honors with 13 each.
Fordham 66 Saint Joseph’s 54
Possessions: 68
Offensive efficiency: Fordham 97, Saint Joseph’s 79
Rams snapped a two game losing streak as Keith Urgo earned his first A10 win as a head coach. Erik Reynolds scored a game high 17 points for Saint Joseph’s. Reynolds was the lone Hawk in double figures. Saint Joseph’s scored 25 points in the opening ten minutes of the game then were shut down posting just 29 the remainder of the afternoon. Darius Quisenberry led Fordham with 15 points while Khalid Moore pulled down a game high 15 boards.
Richmond 75 Duquesne 73
Possessions: 65
Offensive efficiency: Richmond 115, Duquesne 112
In a wild offensive affair (check those efficiencies), Richmond rallied for a late first half 22 point deficit. The comeback was the largest in the 18 season tenure of Richmond mentor Chris Mooney. Jason Roche hit the game winning three pointer for the host Spiders with 7 seconds remaining. Tyler Burton of Richmond led all scorers with 23. Rodney Gunn paced the Dukes with 16, burying four three pointers. Duquesne shot 36% (11 of 31) for the game.
George Mason 86 Loyola 75
Possessions: 72
Offensive efficiency: GMU 119, Loyola 104
Tied at intermission, George Mason pulled away the final twenty minutes. Two statistics really stood out- the Patriots had a 26-6 edge on bench points and 48-30 in points in the paint. Loyola’s Philip Alston scored a game high 23 points. George Mason countered with Josh Oduro’s 17 point, 12 rebound (6 offensive) double-double. DeVon Cooper also had 17 for the Patriots who had five players in double figures.
