VCU knocks off Vanderbilt in emotional thriller, 70-65

Thailon Wilson, Staff Writer

The Rams defeated Vanderbilt University Commodores in an emotional, close battle that went all the way down to the final minutes resulting in 70-65.

Vanderbilt started off the game with a 6-1 run single-handedly scored by junior forward Myles Stute. 

The black and gold answered right back by going on an 8-0 run to make the score 9-6 with 14 minutes left in the half.

The Commodores got into foul trouble early in the half that allowed the Rams to earn multiple points from the charity stripe. 

VCU ended up going 75% at the free throw line, which is 5 percentage points higher than their season average, according to ESPN. 

The Rams also were able to get to the free throw line and had 17 more attempts at the line than the commodores.

The black and gold were also able to stay out of foul trouble by only giving up five free throw attempts the entire first half, according to Statbroadcast.

VCU head coach Mike Rhoades said the team’s free throw shooting numbers are because of their nature in the paint.

“We have a lot of physical drivers who can go to the rim. We have multiple players that are physical, can get downhill and challenge people so that helps,” Rhoades said.

The game was tied 19-19 with six minutes left in the first half until Vanderbilt senior guard Ezra Manjon made a layup to give the Commodores their first lead since the 11-minute mark to make it 21-19.

With time running out in the first half, VCU junior guard Adrian “Ace” Baldwin Jr. scored 8 points without missing in the last two minutes to give VCU the lead of 35-28 to end the half. 

These 8 points were part of Baldwin’s 28 points, which was his new career-high at VCU, according to VCU Athletics.

Baldwin said that he came into this game with the mindset to help his team obtain the win. 

“I was coming out to win. I just wanted to lead my team to victory,” Baldwin said.

As soon as the second half began, VCU continued where they left off the first half by going on a 6-2 run to extend the lead to 41-30 at the 18-minute mark.

The Commodores continued to try to scrape away at VCU’s lead, but after a pull-up midrange jumper by Baldwin, the Rams were still winning 48-39 with 13 minutes remaining.

Stute scored two three-pointers to help give Vanderbilt a one-point 49-48 lead. 

Rhoades said that he was aware of Vanderbilt junior forward Myles Stute’s ability to shoot. Rhoades made specific changes to prevent him from shooting as well as he did in the first half. 

“We gave him open opportunities to get himself going in the first half. I thought we did a good job of running them off the line. You just have to be on edge when guarding a guy like that,” Rhoades said.

After going back and forth for the next few minutes, Vanderbilt center Liam Robbins dunked the ball and celebrated afterwards, but then he was called for a technical foul with seven minutes left.

Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse questioned the call and went onto the court to talk out the technical foul call with the referees. 

Stackhouse was seen getting in the faces of the referee, and he was ejected from the game.

Due to the ejections and technical fouls, VCU was awarded six free throw attempts in which Baldwin made four to increase the Rams lead to 7 points.

After Stackhouse’s ejection from the game, the Commodores gained momentum to bring VCU’s lead down to a 68-65, with 47 seconds left.

VCU redshirt sophomore Jamir Watkins made a stepback midrange jumper with 16 seconds left to make the score 70-65, ending the game for the Rams. 

Watkins said his work ethic helped him to be prepared to make that big shot.

“I’ve been working on my game a lot. I knew the team needed that shot, and once I shot it, it felt good,” Watkins said. 

The black and gold will play the Jacksonville University Dolphins at the Stuart C. Siegel Center on Dec. 7. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.