VCU finished the season with the A10 regular season title and all important momentum heading into Brooklyn. A double bye also went to Dayton, Fordham and Saint Louis. The post season get together begins Tuesday at the Barclays Center.
Friday:
Saint Louis 65 Dayton 61
Possessions: 59
Offensive efficiency: Saint Louis 110, Dayton 103
Senior night at Chaifetz Arena saw Saint Louis hold on by virtue of two Javonte Perkins free throws in the final minute. Both teams have a double bye for the A10 Tournament in Brooklyn. Dayton had zero points off turnovers, Saint Louis three. Both showed excellent care for the ball as Dayton (7% TO rate) had four miscues, Saint Louis eight (13% rate). Perkins led the way with 17 points. Yuri Collins scored 12 while handing out 10 assists. DaRon Holmes and Mustapha Amzil shared scoring honors for the Flyers with 13 points each.
Saturday:
UMass 71 St. Bonaventure 60
Possessions: 68
Offensive efficiency: Umass 104, St. Bona 88
Bonnies trailed by seven at the half before making a second half comeback. They trimmed the deficit to one possession with just over three minutes left before TJ Weeks hit a three pointer to give the host Minutemen separation. Both teams shot 36% from the floor. UMass had the edge with a 41-31 rebounding count, translating into a 19-9 advantage in second chance points. Bonnies were also forced into 20 turnovers for a 29% TO rate. Chad Venning of the Bonnies was a game-high 18 point scorer. Venning also added eight boards. RJ Luis and Rashool Diggins shared UMass scoring honors with 14. Luis added a game-high 9 nine rebounds. Bonnies wrapped up the regular season dropping six of their last seven.
Loyola 76 La Salle 73
Possessions: 65
Offensive efficiency: Loyola 117, La Salle 112
Host La Salle was looking at a 13 point deficit with four minutes to play. The host Explorers staged a late rally but a last second three point attempt missed and Loyola emerged victorious. La Salle finished the regular season on a five game skid. The Ramblers enjoyed a 29-19 rebounding advantage while limiting the Explorers to just three offensive boards. La Salle was proficient from three hitting 10 of 20 (50%). Jhamir Brickus led La Salle with 18 points while Loyola’s Sheldon Edwards paced all scorers with 25 points.
Fordham 87 Duquesne 60
Possessions: 74
Offensive efficiency: Fordham 118, Duquesne 81
Fordham delighted a sold out Senior Day crowd with their 18th win in 20 home games. Duquesne had an early eight point lead prior to a late 16-2 run that gave Keith Urgo’s club a 13 point lead at intermission. Fordham was never headed in the final twenty minutes. Duquesne shot a season low 14% (3-22) from beyond the arc while Fordham checked in at 43% (9-21). The win, Fordham’s 12th in A10 play, moved them into a second place tie with Dayton. Khalid Moore led all scorers with 24 points. Moore added nine boards, six assists and zero turnovers in 32 minutes. Joe Reece was Duquesne’s scoring leader with 16.
George Mason 62 Richmond 60
Possessions: 65
Offensive efficiency: GMU 95, Richmond 92
George Mason led by 18 in the second half before Richmond came back, on a 23-4 run, to move ahead with under a minute to play. Davonte Gaines scored two of his career and game-high 23 points in the final seconds to provide the Patriots with their six straight victory, their longest conference win streak since joining the A10 in 2013-14. The visiting Patriots hit only 20% (4-20) from beyond the arc while enjoying a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint. Tyler Burton led Richmond with 17 points.
VCU 74 George Washington 68
Possessions: 66
Offensive efficiency: VCU 112, GW 103
VCU, the A10 regular season champion, finished the campaign with their 8th straight win on the road. George Washington saw their four game win streak come to a close. The Rams owned a 35-29 rebounding advantage while shooting 47% (7-15) from three. The Colonials trailed by 17 in the second half before embarking on a run that cut the deficit to one possession with 50 seconds left. At that point a Brandon Johns jr. dunk and four free throws sealed the verdict. Johns scored a game-high 17 points while James Bishop IV and Brendan Adams shared the Colonial scoring honors with 14 each.
Davidson 68 Rhode Island 54
Possessions: 67
Offensive efficiency: Davidson 101, URI 81
Both teams started slow with visiting Davidson taking a 20-18 lead into the halftime break. Foster Loyer of Davidson scored 21 of his 33 game-high 33 points in the second half to spark the Wildcats. Rhode Island finished the regular season losing eight of their last nine. Davidson finished the season capturing four of their last five outings. Davidson committed only eight turnovers (12% TO rate) while forcing URI into 20 miscues (30% TO rate). Ishmael Leggett was Rhode Island;s leading scorer with 14.
