Rams against Wildcats in A10 semifinal

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After two comeback wins each in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals, VCU and Davidson College meet in the semifinal, Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

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Photo by Audry Dubon.

Alonzo Small
Sports Editor

After two comeback wins each in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals, VCU and Davidson College meet in the semifinal, Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Behind solid play from junior Melvin Johnson and a three-point shot by sophomore guard Doug Brooks, the Rams took back the lead with under two minutes to play. The Rams advanced to their third straight A-10 semifinal.

The Rams want to prevent the No. 1 seeded Davidson from becoming the first school to win the Atlantic 10 their first year in. A loss today would see VCU not advance to the championship game since joining the A-10 in 2012.

Yesterday, Davidson extended their postseason after a buzzer-beater by Tyler Kalinoski to defeat LaSalle University in the A-10 quarterfinal matchup on March. 13.

VCU made 16-19 free-throws against Richmond. Davidson enters the semifinals on the heels of shooting a season low 5-13 (.385) from the free-throw line.

Both teams enter the games coming off double-digit three-pointer performances: Davidson (14) VCU (10).

The Rams fell to Davidson 82-55 in Davidson, North Carolina on March 5.

Davidson opened the game with a 7-0 run to take a lead the Wildcats would not relinquish. The Davidson Wildcats routed VCU with five double-digit scorers: Kalinoski (21), Jack Gibbs (15), Jordan Barham (14), Brian Sullivan (11) and Peyton Aldridge (10).

The game saw VCU shoot 1-15 (6.7 percent), a season-low.

Senior guard Tyler Kalinoski netted 18 points in the LaSalle matchup including the game-winning layup. Against VCU this season, the A-10’s third leading scorer netted a total of 38 points, a 22-point performance at home and 16 points on the road.

Davidson’s win pushed their winning streak to 10, the fifth longest active streak in Division I this season.

Davidson trailed a total of 38 minutes and 49 seconds against LaSalle. Davidson was able to hold LaSalle scoreless for the final four minutes and 51 seconds of the game.

Both schools went head-to-head twice this season, each winning their matchups at home.

VCU won the first match at the Siegel Center 71-65. Senior Treveon Graham led the team with 15 points. Junior Melvin Johnson and freshman forward Terry Larrier both added 11 points.

It’s a game junior guard Melvin Johnson remember fondly on the heels of making the first five of six three-pointers yesterday against Richmond.

“This is just one of those games you have to step up as a competitor,” said Johnson. “That’s a great team, so I feel it will be a great game.”

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