VCU hunts down the Wildcats to stay atop the Atlantic 10
VCU graduate student guard drives past Davidson defender. Photo by Arrick Wilson.
Kyler Gilliam, Staff Writer
Drew Thompson, Staff Writer
The VCU Rams hosted the Davidson College Wildcats in an Atlantic-10 conference matchup in one of their final home games of the 2024-2025 season on Feb. 28.
The Rams dominated the contest throughout, with excellent shooting efficiency and Davidson was not able to keep up. VCU won the game 80-56.
VCU opened the game on a 13-1 run in the first five minutes, aided by the team shooting 80% from the field and holding Davidson to 0%, according to StatBroadcast.
Every starter scored on the run, and VCU graduate student guard Joe Bamisile would lead all scorers on the run with four points, according to StatBroadcast.
The Wildcats clawed back with a 10-0 run, cutting VCU’s lead to five. Davidson graduate guards Zack Laput and Conner Kochera would score every point of the run, scoring five each, according to StatBroadcast.
VCU expanded its lead to 32-18 at the three-minute mark. VCU graduate student forward Jack Clark would hit back-to-back threes, helping the Rams regain a double-digit lead over the Wildcats.
The Rams would go into the half up 43-19, graduate student guard Zeb Jackson hit a deep buzzer-beater three that erupted the home crowd.
“When it went in it was awesome for us,” Jackson said.
Clark led all scorers with 14, shooting 100% from the field and hitting four threes in the first half, along with grabbing five boards, according to StatBroadcast.
The Rams shot 51.4% from the field in the first half and shot 50% from behind the ark. VCU held Davidson to 25% from the field and 16.7% from three. The Rams also outscored the Wildcats in the paint 22-7, according to StatBroadcast.
VCU came out of halftime with the same offensive intensity as the first, making their first three shots of the second, according to StatBroadcast.
VCU first-year forward Luke Bamgboye contributed two of the first three field goals, bringing his scoring tally to 10 on the night, his most points scored this season.
Davidson would begin to find some offensive footing however, making five straight field goals with 12 minutes remaining, according to StatBroadcast.
The Rams dried up offensively at the same time, only making one of their last eight shots and going over three minutes without a made field goal, according to StatBroadcast.
The Wildcats offensive success continued as they embarked on an 11-1 run over the span of three minutes halfway through the second, bringing the score to within 20.
VCU’s Bamgboye would attempt to put a stop to the Rams second-half offensive struggles. Bamgboye rebounded a missed Shulga shot and scored on a putback through a foul, converting the three-point play to put VCU up 18.
Bamgboye would continue to contribute on both ends of the court, hitting two free throws and forcing a steal to keep VCU firmly in control.
“He’s growing every day and he’s consistent with his work,” said VCU head coach Ryan Odom. “He’s gonna get stronger with his catches and things like that as he gets more mature.”
VCU finally began to find their offensive footing as the game winded down, making five of their last seven shots and ending the game on a 14-5 run, according to StatBroadcast.
The Rams won 80-56, matching their win total from last year and extending their undefeated home streak to 15 this season. Clark led the team in scoring with 18 points, while Bamgboye contributed a career-high 17. Shulga similarly had a career night, finishing with a career high 11 rebounds.
VCU will play its final game of the season back home at the Siegel Center against the University of Dayton Flyers on Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m.
