VCU defeats Duquesne 80-93
VCU Outlasts Duquesne in Conference Thriller, 93-80
In a tightly contested conference matchup, the visiting VCU Rams managed to outlast the host Duquesne Dukes at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on Sunday evening. The 13-point victory marked a significant win for the Rams, who improved their conference record.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the outset, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a decisive advantage in the first half. Duquesne's Jakub Necas led the Dukes' charge, scoring six points and grabbing five rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. Meanwhile, VCU's Lazar Djokovic provided a spark for the Rams, scoring eight points and collecting seven rebounds.
As the second half got underway, VCU began to pull away. The Rams' Terrence Hill Jr. scored 10 points in the period, including three clutch free throws, to put his team up by six with just over two minutes remaining. However, Duquesne refused to go quietly, and Tarence Guinyard responded with five points of his own to make it a four-point game.
The Turning Point
With 1:30 left on the clock, VCU's Brandon Jennings stole the ball from Necas and sprinted down the court for an easy layup. The Rams' bench erupted in celebration as Jennings added a crucial three-pointer to seal the win.
Rams Shine in Three-Point Shooting
VCU's offense was fueled by its accurate shooting from beyond the arc, particularly in the second half. The Rams connected on 8-of-15 three-point attempts, including four from Hill Jr., who finished with 21 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
For Duquesne, Guinyard led the way with 22 points and five assists, but his teammates struggled to find their rhythm from beyond the arc. The Dukes shot just 8-of-23 three-pointers, including a dismal 2-of-5 effort by Necas.
Advanced Statistics
Duquesne's advanced statistics suggested that they should have had more success against VCU's defense. The Dukes' true shooting percentage was an impressive 62.5%, but their field goal percentage and free throw rate were somewhat inflated due to a high volume of shots.
Meanwhile, VCU's eFG% (63.9%) and True Shooting Percentage (68.7%) showed that the Rams had a significant edge in terms of efficiency. The Dukes' turnovers also proved costly, as they committed 13 against just 12 by VCU.
In the end, it was VCU's balanced attack and clutch shooting from beyond the arc that made all the difference. As the Rams celebrated their hard-fought victory, they knew they had earned a crucial win in the conference standings.
Game Stats
Duquesne:
* Field Goals: 28/53 (53.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 20/30 (66.7%)
* 3-Point FG: 8/23 (35.0%)
* Free Throws: 16/25 (64.0%)
VCU:
* Field Goals: 29/54 (54.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 18/29 (62.1%)
* 3-Point FG: 11/25 (44.0%)
* Free Throws: 24/31 (77.0%)