VCU’s six-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday night as the Rams fell 78-69 to Saint Louis in a hard-fought battle at Chaifetz Arena. Struggles from beyond the arc plagued the Rams, who shot just 5-of-31 from three (16.1%), with their attempts from deep making up nearly half their total shots.
First Half: A Tight Battle on the Boards
Despite their shooting struggles, VCU (16-5, 6-2 A-10) kept the game within reach by dominating the glass early. The Rams grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the first half, generating 10 second-chance points while Saint Louis (13-8, 6-2 A-10) had none. That edge helped VCU weather 10 lead changes before heading into halftime with a 31-28 lead.
Key moments included Joe Bamisile’s layup at 6:35 to put VCU up 19-18, followed by a clutch putback from Jack Clark at 3:26 to regain the lead. Max Shulga’s defensive effort, blocking a SLU fast break before finding Zeb Jackson for a three, pushed the Rams ahead 27-23 late in the half.
Second Half: Jimerson Catches Fire
Saint Louis guard Gibson Jimerson, who finished with a game-high 26 points, heated up after halftime. His deep three at 4:49 extended the Billikens’ lead to 60-53, and VCU struggled to respond as their three-point woes continued. A late triple from Shulga with 1:10 remaining cut the deficit to two possessions, but Saint Louis iced the game at the free throw line.
Numbers That Told the Story
- Shooting Woes: VCU hit just 32.8% from the field and 16.1% from three, while SLU shot 48.8% overall and 33.3% from deep.
- Free Throw Advantage: The Billikens took 40 free throws, contributing to a combined 66 attempts between the two teams.
- Foul Trouble: VCU saw three key players—Zeb Jackson, Phillip Russell, and Max Shulga—foul out late in the game.
- Balanced Scoring: Despite the loss, VCU had four players in double figures:
- Zeb Jackson: 15 points, 3-6 3PT, 4-4 FT
- Phillip Russell: 15 points, 5-12 FG, 1-7 3PT
- Max Shulga: 14 points, 9-10 FT, 5 rebounds
- Joe Bamisile: 11 points, 5-17 FG, 6 rebounds
Chaotic Finish
The game took a bizarre turn late when a fight broke out in the stands near the VCU bench, causing a seven-minute delay with 1:10 remaining. Fans spilled across rows and onto the floor before security intervened. Both teams huddled on the court as order was restored.
The game evens the season series between VCU and Saint Louis at 1-1, with both teams now tied for second place in the A-10 behind George Mason.
