All that stood between the VCU Rams and a seventh win before Christmas on Tuesday night was, ironically, James Madison University forward Michael Christmas.
Despite a less-than-stellar first half offensively, the Rams found themselves with a double-digit advantage for the duration of the first half. That is, until a 9-0 run by the Dukes trimmed the deficit to 77-74 with 1:34 to play.
Christmas, a sophomore from Virginia Beach, Virginia, spearheaded the run with a 3-pointer and added a layup of his own to spur the Dukes’ offense. The sophomore forward would end the game with 15 points.
On the ensuing VCU possession, Bones Hyland missed a 3-pointer, but was bailed out by a Corey Douglas offensive rebound. Junior forward Vince Williams then drained a contested, stepback jumper from the left elbow with 41 seconds to go. Williams’ jumper would push the VCU advantage to five points.
More crucially, VCU gained a two-possession lead that it would never relinquish. A last-second foul on a...
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