VCU keeps rolling along. Saint Louis and Fordham win while Dayton loses, making the race of second through fourth interesting. George Mason and George Washington are on win streaks at the most opportune time. Bonnies ended their slide with an offensive outburst.
Friday
VCU 73 Richmond 58
Possessions: 62
Offensive efficiency: VCU 118, Richmond 94
VCU swept the city series over Richmond in resounding fashion. In the game at the Siegel Center, the Rams built a 14 point lead at intermission and never looked back. The Spiders were limited to 18% shooting from beyond the arc and out rebounded by a 40-29 count. Richmond’s Neal Quinn led all scorers with 21 points. VCU placed four in double figures with Adrian Baldwin jr. scoring 18.
Saturday
Fordham 74 Rhode Island 71
Possessions: 69
Offensive efficiency: Fordham 107, URI 103
On a day Fordham’s legendary team of ‘71 was honored at packed Rose Hill Gym, the team of ‘23 held on for a second straight victory. The game had six lead changes and it came down to a final shot as Rhode Island’s Ishmael Leggett’s potential game tying three pointer at the buzzer rimmed. URI shot 56% from three but was outscored 32-24 in the paint. Malik Martin of URI led all with 17 points. Balance was the key for Fordham as Darius Quisenberry, Khalid Moore and Rostyslav Novitskyi scored 14 each.
George Washington 92 La Salle 85
Possessions: 74
Offensive efficiency: GW 124, La Salle 115
George Washington held a four point second half lead before embarking on a 19-3 game changing run. Defense mirrored potent offense for Chris Caputo’s Colonials. The hosts limited La Salle to 40% shooting while connecting on 59% from the field. Colonials enjoyed a resounding 50-32 edge in points in the paint. La Salle has dropped three in a row while George Washington is on a three game run. George Washington was led by James Bishop IV with 29 points (4 of 6 from three) and nine assists. Ricky Lindo jr. added a 16 point, 11 rebound double-double. The Explorers placed six in double digits with Fousseyni Drame and Daeshon Shepherd leading the way with 14 points each.
Saint Louis 81 Loyola 62
Possessions: 69
Offensive efficiency: Saint Louis 117, Loyola 90
Saint Louis jumped out to a 16 point halftime lead en route to their third win in the last four games. The Billiken lead stayed at double figures throughout the final stanza. Host Saint Louis enjoyed a 37-27 advantage in the rebounding department while limiting the Ramblers to 43% shooting from the floor. Gibson Jimerson continued his hot streak for the Bills with a game-high 21 points. The 6’5” sophomore has hit 20+ plus in five of his last seven outings. Loyola , now in a three game slide, was led by Philip Alston with 15.
George Mason 74 Dayton 69
Possessions: 59
Offensive efficiency: GMU 125, Dayron `117
The Patriots passed the road test in front of a sold out UD Arena. George Mason earned their fourth straight victory and the second in a row away from home. Dayton trailed by five at intermission then came back to establish a five point lead of their own with just under ten minutes to play. The Patriots answered with a 11-5 run, setting the stage for a finish with five lead changes in the final five minutes. Ronald Polite, hit two clutch free throws for George Mason, finishing with a team-high 22 points. DaRon Holmes of Dayton paced all scorers with 34 points. Patriots shot 58% from the field including 54% (7 of 13) from three. They committed only eight turnovers, an excellent 14% mark. Dayton saw a four game win streak come to an end.
Sunday
St. Bonaventure 89 Saint Joseph’s 76
Possessions: 69
Offensive efficiency: St. Bona 129, Saint Joseph’s 110
Bonnies raced out to a ten point halftime lead at the Reilly Center as they snapped a five game losing streak. Saint Joseph’s, on the other hand, is now in a four game slump. Bonnies shot 57% from the floor including 9 of 21 (43%) from downtown. They also held a 31-23 edge in the rebounding department. Daryl Banks III led all scorers with a career-high 36 points, including 4 of 10 from long range. Bonnies had four in double-figures. Erik Reynolds II paced the Hawks with a career-high 33, 6 of 11 from three.
Davidson 71 Duquesne 67
Possessions: 59
Offensive efficiency: Davidson 120, Duquesne 114
Visiting Wildcats got out to a 14 point lead at the half. In the final twenty minutes Duquesne came back. Foster Loyer of Davidson hit a pair of crucial three pointers in the last ninety seconds to hold off the charging Dukes. Duquesne had entered the contest as winners in five of their last six. Davidson, now on a three game winning streak, hit 9 of 21 (43%) from three. Grant Huffman led the way for the Wildcats with 16 points. Dae Dae Clark of Duquesne was the game’s scoring leader with 20. Jimmy Clark added 15, 14 in the final six minutes during Duquesne’s final run.
