Rams get payback against George Washington behind Graham, Johnson
Junior Treveon Graham and Sophomore Melvin Johnson combined to score 46 points as the VCU men’s basketball team topped George Washington University 92-75 at the Siegel Center Wednesday.
Colin Kennedy
Sports Editor
Junior Treveon Graham and Sophomore Melvin Johnson combined to score 46 points as the VCU men’s basketball team topped George Washington University 92-75 at the Siegel Center Wednesday.
With the win, head coach Shaka Smart’s team moved into sole possession of second place in the Atlantic 10 with a 7-3 record in the conference and a 20-5 record overall.
Less than two months after GW handed VCU its first conference loss of the season in Washington D.C., junior Briante Weber says the Rams came into Wednesday’s contest with one common goal.
“Payback was on our mind,” Weber said. “That’s the first thing we thought about when we got another chance (against GW). We don’t get many chances with teams in this conference.”
Impressive perimeter shooting and persistent full-court defense was the story for the Rams, who racked up 14 steals and converted 13-25 (52 percent) three-point attempts on the evening.
Weber, who leads the nation in steals per game, recorded seven thefts to complement six points and six assists.
George Washington trimmed a 17-point halftime deficit to five late in the second half; however, The Rams stringed together a handful of solid offensive possessions behind Graham and junior Rob Brandenberg to distance themselves from the now third-place Colonials.
The Rams, who were out-rebounded by 16 at GW in January, out-rebounded the Colonials 36-34 on Wednesday. VCU scored 29 points off 22 GW turnovers and shot 48 percent from the field in the winning effort.
On a night when inclement weather threatened the game, Smart said the fans at the Siegel Center made the difference.
“The MVP tonight was the crowd,” Smart said. “I can’t say enough how appreciative I am of the crowd tonight. It’s just another reminder of how special a following we have here.”
Brandenberg tallied 15 points and senior Juvonte Reddic pitched in 10 of his own.
Up next for the Rams is a road game against conference-leading No.12 Saint Louis on Saturday, Jan. 15.