The Virginia Commonwealth Rams secured a convincing 78-67 win over the Richmond Spiders, led by Terrence Hill Jr.'s impressive 20-point performance. Hill Jr. also grabbed 5 rebounds, helping VCU dominate the paint and secure the 11-point victory. Richmond's Will Johnston put up a valiant effort with 17 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Rams' strong first-half showing, where they scored 47 points and took a 20-point lead into halftime.
Terrence Hill Jr. Scores 20 Points for 10th Time This Season
The game unfolded with VCU taking control from the start, scoring 47 points in the first half to Richmond's 27. The Rams' strong defense held the Spiders to just 27 points in the first 20 minutes, while their offense clicked on all cylinders. In the second half, Richmond attempted to mount a comeback, scoring 40 points to VCU's 31, but the deficit proved too great to overcome. The Spiders' AJ Lopez contributed 14 points, and Mike Walz added 10 points and 9 rebounds, but VCU's balanced attack and strong rebounding margin of 5 proved too much for Richmond. The Rams' 47 first-half points were the most they've scored in a half this season, and their 78 total points marked their 15th game with 70 or more points.
Terrence Hill Jr. was the standout performer for VCU, scoring 20 points on 8-12 shooting and grabbing 5 rebounds. Jadrian Tracey added 14 points, and Nyk Lewis chipped in with 10 points for the Rams. For Richmond, Will Johnston led the way with 17 points, while AJ Lopez scored 14 points and Mike Walz contributed 10 points and 9 rebounds. The top performers for both teams combined for 75 points, with VCU's trio accounting for 44 of those points. Hill Jr.'s 20 points marked his 10th game with 15 or more points this season, and his 5 rebounds were just 2 shy of his season high.
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VCU's 47 first-half points were a key factor in their victory, as they shot 53.8% from the field and 50% from three-point range in the first 20 minutes. The Rams also outrebounded Richmond 35-30, including a 10-7 edge on the offensive glass. Richmond's 27 first-half points were their lowest total in a half this season, and their 67 total points marked their 12th game with fewer than 70 points. The Spiders shot just 38.5% from the field and 25% from three-point range, numbers that ultimately doomed their chances of a comeback. VCU's 78 points marked their 20th game with 70 or more points, and their 11-point margin of victory was their 10th double-digit win of the season.
The CHD Scout model predicted a VCU victory by 8.1 points, and the Rams ultimately won by 11. This marks the 12th time this season that the model has correctly predicted the winner of a VCU game, and the 8th time it has been within 3 points of the actual margin. The model's predicted score of 73-81 was close to the actual score, and it correctly identified VCU's strong offense as the key factor in their victory. The model's accuracy is now 85% on the season, with a mean absolute error of just 4.2 points.
This win improves VCU's record to 20-6, and their NET ranking of 48 should remain steady or even improve slightly. The victory was a Quadrant 3 win for VCU, which should help bolster their resume for tournament selection. For Richmond, the loss drops their record to 14-12, and their NET ranking of 140 may take a slight hit. The game was a Quadrant 2 loss for the Spiders, which could impact their chances of earning an at-large bid. VCU's quad record now stands at 5-4 in Q1 and Q2 games, while Richmond's quad record is 2-6 in Q1 and Q2 games. The Rams' 20 wins are their most since the 2018-2019 season, and their 11-point margin of victory was their largest in a road game this season.
VCU's next game is scheduled for February 17th against the Dayton Flyers, while Richmond will face the Saint Louis Billikens on February 19th. Both games matters for the teams' tournament hopes, and VCU want to build on their momentum from this win. The Rams have won 5 of their last 6 games, and their 20-6 record is their best 26-game start since the 2010-2011 season. Richmond, on the other hand, has lost 3 of their last 5 games, and their 14-12 record is their worst 26-game start since the 2016-2017 season.