VCU breaks the Bonnies’ curse, 75-61.

Alexis Washington, Staff Writer 

VCU had a monumental 75-61 win, ending their four-game losing streak against Atlantic-10 opponent St. Bonaventure University on Friday, Jan. 25. 

VCU won the tip-off but had a slow start. SBU went on a 7-2 run in the first three minutes of the game. 

They quickly established dominance on the court, capitalizing on the Rams’ offensive struggles. 

Bonnies’ fourth-year guard Chance Moore made a jumper increasing the lead to 13-8 at the 12-minute mark. 

Moore was a key player for the Bonnies in the first half with 9 points.

VCU had a 8-0 run at the 10-minute mark trying to put points on the board. The Bonnies quickly responded scoring seven consecutive points, according to StatBroadcast.

In the last five minutes of the half, the Rams were still pressing through. VCU graduate student guard Zeb Jackson made an alley-oop dunk making the game a one point difference. 

The Bonnies went on a 6-0 run to follow at the two-minute mark. 

VCU was trailing 33-25 at the half. They were struggling offensively, shooting 31% while the Bonnies were shooting 44%, according to StatBroadcast.

“We were taking questionable shots, not stopping and playing together, we were not passing enough,” VCU head coach Ryan Odom said.

VCU came out with intensity and took control over the game in the second half.

The Rams immediately went on a 8-0 run at the 18-minute mark. VCU graduate student guard Max Shulga secured a driving layup and VCU graduate student guard Philip Russell responded with a three-point jumper.

Russell’s confidence showed throughout the match. He had 16 points, making this his third straight game with double digits, according to VCU Athletics. 

Jackson commended Russell for the impact his energy brings to the team.

“It’s just who Phil is and it’s huge,” Jackson said. “It’s to the point where I don’t think he knows how big it is to his team, it’s just him being him.”

The game was tied 35-35 at the 16-minute mark.

For three straight minutes both teams had defensive stops. 

VCU first-year forward Luke Bamgboye was dominant on the rim. He finished the game with four blocks and four rebounds. He is ranked top 20 in the country for blocks per game, according to the NCAA. 

VCU went on yet another run of 10 points uncontested at the 13-minute mark. 

Russell kicked off the run with a three-point jumper followed by free throws from VCU graduate guard Joe Bamisile.

Bamisile had a slow start to the game with zero points in the first half, yet he finished the game with 18 points as the lead scorer for the Rams. 

“I take shots when I am open, and when I shoot them and they go in, I thank God,” Bamisile said. “And when they don’t go in I thank God, and in the second half I was thanking God.”

Bonnies’ red-shirt second-year guard Jonah Hinton ended the three-minute scoring drought at the 10-minute mark. 

In the last five minutes of the game, the Bonnies were trying to take the lead back but had no control of the ball. 

VCU graduate forward Jack Clark hit back-to-back three-pointers advancing their lead to 72-57 at the two-minute mark, according to StatBroadcast.

“We’ve actually got to give our fans something to cheer about,” Odom said.

The VCU men’s basketball team did just that. 

Seconds were boiling down, and at the buzzer fans were on their feet cheering on the No.1 team in the Atlantic-10 Conference: VCU. 

VCU men’s basketball will return to the Siegel Center and face the Richmond Spiders on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 4 p.m.