Dayton and Saint Louis got back on track. Bonnies saw a win streak end while La Salle extended theirs. Fordham gave another sold out Rose Hill crowd plenty to cheer about while Richmond and George Washington kept the scoreboard operator busy.
Tuesday:
Dayton 62 VCU 58
Possessions: 64
Offensive efficiency: Dayton 97, VCU 91
Dayton is now within a game of VCU by virtue of a big road win at the Siegel Center. Flyers led by eight points with just over six minutes remaining. VCU went on a late run to get within two but could draw no closer. Rams forced Dayton into a 27% turnover rate, with a 20-9 edge in points off turnovers. VCU, though, struggled at the line hitting just 10 of 20 (50%). Dayton’s Toumani Camara led all scorers with 26 points. Ace Baldwin jr. led VCU, who have now dropped two straight at home, with 14.
Saint Louis 76 Rhode Island 71
Possessions: 74
Offensive efficiency: Saint Louis 103, URI 96
Visiting Rhode Island went on a late 10-2 run to force a tie with just over a minute left. Gibson Jimerson hit a three pointer in the final minute to give the Billikens a lead they would not surrender. Saint Louis ended a two game slide while URI has now dropped two straight. Yuri Collins of Saint Louis handed out eight assists to break the A10 record set by Richmond’s Jacob Gilyard at 783. Jimerson scored a game-high 24 points for Saint Louis. Ishmael Leggett paced the Rams with 20. Freshman Rory Stewart came off the bench to give URI a lift scoring 11 points on a perfect 4 of 4 shooting (3 of 3 from three).
Wednesday:
Duquesne 75 George Mason 52
Possessions: 72
Offensive efficiency: Duquesne 104, GMU 72
Three of the last four in the win column for host Duquesne. It was also Keith Dambrot’s 500th career win. The Duquesne mentor became only the eighth active coach to hit 500 having never coached in a Power 5 or Big East conference. Defense was the key as George Mason managed just 37% shooting, 31% over the final 20 minutes. Dukes led by six at the break before opening it up the second half. Duquesne’s Dae Dae Grant led all scorers with 20 points. Josh Oduro paced the Patriots with a 13 point, 13 rebound double-double.
Fordham 77 UMass 67
Possessions: 68
Offensive efficiency: Fordham 113, UMass 99
As has been the case in recent games, Fordham rode a second half wave to victory. The Rams trailed by seven at intermission before running up 45 second half points in front of a sold out Rose Hill crowd. It was Fordham’s 19th victory, the most since the ‘91 group went 25-8. The Rams held a 15-6 edge in offensive rebounds while forcing the Minutemen into a 21% TO rate. Darius Quisenberry of Fordham led the way with a game-high 21 points. Khalid Moore added 19. UMass had four players in double figures with Matt Cross leading the way with 17.
La Salle 76 St. Bonaventure 70
Possessions: 68
Offensive efficiency: La Salle 112, St. Bona 103
The Bonnies saw their three game win streak come to an end. On the other side, La Salle extended their own win streak to three games with a victory at the Reilly Center. A late 13-0 run gave LaSalle a nine point lead at the break. Bona fought back and had a one point lead with just under six to play. Another run, 7-0 by the Explorers sealed it. La Salle was white hot from three shooting 10 of 25 (40%). Josh Nickelberry came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points (4 of 9 from beyond the arc) for the Explorers. Bona had five in double figures with Daryl Banks III and Chad Venning sharing team scoring honors with 16 apiece.
George Washington 107 Richmond 105 (2 OT)
Possessions: 81
Offensive efficiency: GW 132, Richmond 130
George Washington broke a three game slide and delighted the home crowd with a thrilling victory. Both teams shot over 50% and combined to bury 26 shots from long distance. The Colonials shot a sizzling 14 of 29 (48%) from three. George Washington led by eight, in the second half, at the under 8:00 time out. Richmond rallied to force overtime. Brendan Adams of George Washington paced all scorers with a career-high 35 points, including a school record 9 threes. James Bishop IV had his first career double-double, 33 points, 10 assists. Matt Grace led Richmond with 28 points.
Saint Joseph’s 83 Loyola 71
Possessions: 68
Offensive efficiency: Saint Joseph’s 122, Loyola 104
The Hawks flew into Chicago and earned their third victory in their last four outings. In a game with 15 ties and 19 lead changes, a late 12-0 run gave Saint Joseph’s separation to close out the contest. Saint Joseph’s kept turnovers to a minimum (12% TO rate), won the battle of the offensive boards 18-7 and connected on 11 of 32 (41%) from beyond the arc. Loyola was forced into a 22% turnover rate. Leading the way for Saint Joseph’s was Erik Reynolds II with 24 points while Cameron Brown added 22. Reynolds II (5) and Brown (4) combined for nine three pointers. . Braden Norris of Loyola scored a game-high 25 points.
