VCU (18-5, 8-2 A-10) continues to hold court at the Siegel Center, cruising past La Salle, 96-66, to remain undefeated at home this season. The Rams shook off a sloppy start and turned the game into a showcase of their depth, defensive pressure, and lights-out shooting.
Early Turnovers, Quick Response
La Salle jumped out to a 3-0 lead as VCU turned the ball over twice in the opening minute. But the Rams settled in fast, rattling off an 8-0 run to seize momentum. At the 9:25 mark in the first half, Brandon Jennings and Phillip Russell drilled back-to-back triples, forcing a La Salle timeout as the Rams’ lead hit double digits at 26-16. Russell came out of the timeout and buried another from deep, capping a blistering 15-2 run that put VCU in full control.
Locking In on Both Ends
Turnovers plagued VCU early, with six giveaways in the first six minutes. However, the Rams tightened up and committed just one more for the rest of the half. They took a commanding 48-28 lead into the break, dominating the glass with a 25-11 rebounding edge.
Second-Half Fireworks
VCU kept their foot on the gas, using a 21-4 second-half run to break the game wide open. Max Shulga punctuated the run with a fast break dunk, extending the lead to 79-42 with 9:30 remaining. Terrence Hill Jr. provided an offensive spark off the bench, pouring in 11 points in a four-minute stretch on his way to finishing with 13 points.
Stat Leaders & Team Dominance
Joe Bamisile led the Rams in scoring with 17 points (7-14 fg), while Shulga stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Christian Fermin controlled the boards with eight rebounds to go along with seven points and five blocks.
VCU crushed La Salle in the rebounding battle 45-24, including a 19-8 advantage on the offensive glass, leading to a dominant 17-8 edge in second-chance points. The Rams also controlled the paint, outscoring the Explorers 44-28 down low, while turning defense into offense with 25 fast break points. The bench provided a huge lift, contributing 46 points in the blowout victory.
Holding Strong at the Siegel Center
The Rams’ largest lead reached 40 points, showing their control throughout the game. With just two second-half turnovers, VCU played disciplined basketball and kept La Salle from mounting any sort of comeback. Now 12-0 at home, the Rams continue to build momentum in their push for an A-10 title.
