St. Bonaventure ends VCU’s winning streak, 61-58

Bersabeh Kemaw, Contributing Writer 

The St. Bonaventure Bonnies defeated VCU after a close back and forth battle that ended the Rams six-game winning streak.

This loss for the Rams resulted in them falling to second in the Atlantic 10 conference, according to Fox Sports.

VCU junior point guard Adrian “Ace” Baldwin Jr. led the team in scoring 15 points and six assists. VCU sophomore forward Jalen DeLoach had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, according to Statbroadcast.

VCU won the jump off but struggled to make a point with a missed jumper by sophomore guard Jayden Nunn. 

DeLoach then secured a layup, putting up the first point of the game on the board after both teams were unsuccessful in doing so within the first two minutes of the game, according to Statbroadcast.

The Bonnies responded with a three point jumper, but the black and gold quickly fired back and went on a 7-0 run, their largest in the game, making the score 9-3 at the 13-minute mark.

Although the black and gold had free throw opportunities throughout the game, they ended with 56% at the free throw line, which is 23% less than their recent game versus the George Mason Patriots, according to Statbroadcast.

After the Rams turned the ball over with a few seconds left on the clock, St. Bonaventure freshman forward Barry Evans ended the first half with a buzzer beater layup. Nonetheless, VCU remained in the lead, entering into halftime at 23-18.

Upon their return, both teams put up a fight resulting in a few fouls and missed throws.

VCU graduate student forward Brandon Johns Jr. went to the free throw and successfully completed both and put up the first points for the second half. Johns later scored after a turnover, making the score 27-18, according to Statbroadcast.

The Bonnies had their first lead of the entire night at the 13-minute mark of the second half after redshirt sophomore forward Chad Venning drove into the paint, making a layup that put the game at 36-35. 

The black and gold and the Bonnies went shot for shot after the lead was taken. The Rams then went on a 6-0 run to try and get the lead back.

As the ball was in VCU’s possession, the crowd began to roar and cheer, loudly chanting “V-C-U!” 

VCU sophomore guard Nick Kern Jr. then went into the paint, making a layup that put the Rams back in the lead, making the score 43-41. 

Unfortunately, the Bonnies took back the lead at the three-minute mark and kept the lead until the final seconds on the clock winded down.

VCU junior guard Zeb Jackson said the team had a lot of defensive breakdowns during the game.

“A lot of stuff that we practiced on we didn’t really do today,” Jackson said. “We didn’t convert on the defensive end like we wanted to.”

During the second half, the Rams got into some foul trouble, however Jackson said they take accountability for the outcome of the game, regardless of the calls that were being made. 

“It was everything that we did,” Jackson said. “There’s no way refs should be in the equation for who wins the game.” 

DeLoach said they will refocus for the next game, as they are set to face Davidson College and Saint Louis University this week, which are both away games.

“We’re going to practice harder than we ever have,” DeLoach said.

VCU men’s basketball head coach Mike Rhoades, said the team didn’t do enough to win the game.

“When it’s a close game, everything counts,” Rhoades said. 

Rhoades also said the team didn’t have a good practice the day before their match up, but moving forward in practice, they will work on balance in the post. 

“There’s a lot of good basketball left in these guys,” Rhoades said.

The Rams will play against the Davidson Wildcats on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m., at the John M. Belk Arena.