VCU and Dayton kept pace. Duquesne stayed hot. The Bonnies continued their slide and George Washington decided overtime is better than regulation any time.
Tuesday:
Richmond 81 Saint Louis 78
Possessions: 67
Offensive efficiency: Richmond 121, Saint Louis 116
Richmond battled back from a nine point halftime deficit on the strength of their three point marksmanship. The Spiders buried 10 of their 17 treys following intermission to snap the Billikens two game win streak. Richmond was playing its first game without coach Chris Mooney, who will miss the remainder of the season due to heart surgery. Saint Louis shot 53% on the night and enjoyed a 46-12 advantage in points in the paint. Host Richmond who shot better from three (46%) than two (41%) point range. Javonte Perkins of Saint Louis led all scorers with 28 points. Teammate Yuri Collins had 17 assists, breaking his single- season assist record. Tyler Burton paced Richmond with 20 points.
VCU 88 Saint Joseph’s 63
Possessions: 69
Offensive efficiency: VCU 128, Saint Joseph’s 91
Visiting Rams had a hot shooting night from beyond the arc, 11 of 19 (58%), en route to their third straight win and fifth in their last six. VCU has also won seven straight away from the friendly confines of the Siegel Center. On the defensive end, Mike Rhoades’ club forced Saint Joseph’s into 15 turnovers, a 22% TO rate. The Rams enjoyed a 20-10 advantage in points off turnovers. Jayden Nunn of VCU scored a game-high 31 points. Nunn was a perfect seven for seven from downtown and scored 23 of his points prior to intermission. Erik Reynolds was the Hawks’ lone double-figure scorer leading the way with 21 points.
Wednesday
Duquesne 91 La Salle 74
Possessions: 70
Offensive efficiency: Duquesne 130, La Salle 106
Duquesne defeated La Salle in the City of Brotherly Love for the first time since 2011. The Explorers had won the prior six meetings in Philadelphia between the two teams. The Dukes led by three at intermission before using a decisive 11-1 lead to pull away in the final stanza. Joe Reece scored a career high 26 points to pace Duquesne, winners in five of their last six outings. Josh Nickelberry came off the bench to score a game-high 28 points for La Salle.
Davidson 74 St. Bonaventure 61
Possessions: 64
Offensive efficiency: Davidson 116, St. Bona 95
Host Davidson shot 54% from the field, 7 of 13 (54%) beyond the arc, in the first half. At the break the Bonnies faced a 24 point deficit. The final saw the Bona battle back getting within 12 with four minutes to play. Davidson answered with a Foster Loyer three pointer and was never headed. For the Bonnies, it was a fifth straight loss while Davidson has won two straight. Loyer led all scorers with 27 points. Teammate Sam Mennenga added 24 points. Moses Flowers paced the Bonnies with 16 points.
George Washington 89 Rhode Island 80 (OT)
Possessions: 78
Offensive efficiency: GW 114, URI 103
Groundhog Day has come and gone. For Chris Caputo and his Colonials, they may have felt like they were in the Ground Hog Day movie. For the second straight game, George Washington saw a late double digit lead on the road dissipate. Rhode Island battled back from ten down with five minutes remaining. The Rams took the lead before Brendan Adams tied it with 20 seconds left to force the extra session. George Washington was dominant in overtime, posting their fourth overtime win of the season. Ishmael Leggett of Rhode Island led all scorers with 30 points. James Bishop IV was the Colonials’ leader with 25.
Dayton 72 UMass 54
Possessions: 62
Offensive efficiency: Dayton 116, UMass 87
Dayton led by 10 at the break then went on a 20-6 run after intermission to put the game out of reach. It was the fourth straight and six of the last seven in the win column for Anthony Grant’s Flyers. Dayton shot 51% from the field while holding UMass to a 35% mark. Visiting Flyers also enjoyed a 36-26 advantage on DaRon Holmes of Dayton in points in the paint. DaRon Holmes of Dayton led the way with 22 points. RJ Luis scored 21 for UMass. It was Luis’ 11th time in the last 12 games the Freshman guard hit double digits. Minutemen have now dropped six of their last seven.
Fordham 71 Loyola 69
Possessions: 70
Offensive efficiency: Fordham 101, Loyola 99
In a game featuring 14 ties and 13 lead changes, Fordham held on to secure a close road win in Chicago. The score was tied with just over a minute left before the Rams answered with a three pointer to regain a lead they would not relinquish. Fordham has now won four of their last five. Loyola enjoyed a 38-24 advantage in points in the paint. Darius Quisenberry of Fordham knocked down four three pointers en route to a game high 26 points. The Ramblers had four in double figures with Philip Alston leading the way with 19.
