Tyrese Perkins, Contributing Writer
While Richmond was frozen over, VCU faced its crosstown archrival, the University of Richmond Spiders at the Siegel Center Tuesday night, marking the 33rd matchup between the two programs. VCU now holds a 24-9 lead all time.
VCU built off its three-game winning streak and recent on-the-road win against the Davidson College Wildcats on Jan. 24.
VCU won the tip-off and second-year guard Brandon Jennings scored the opening bucket. It was followed by a dunk from third-year forward Lazar Djokovic — starting the game 4-0.
However, Richmond’s fifth-year guard AJ Lopez responded with a top-of-the-key three-pointer, silencing the crowd.
Capitalizing off of the Spiders’ missed shots, the Rams’ redshirt fourth-year guard Jadrian Tracey knocked down back-to-back three-pointers. VCU gained a 12-5 lead just three minutes into the opening half.
Richmond quickly responded with a 6-0 run as it scored around the rim. VCU second-year guard Terrence Hill Jr. scored a 17-footer.
On the next possession, Djokovic stole the ball from Richmond third-year forward Jaden Daughtry, and in the fast break he passed it to Hill, who threw up an alley-oop to third-year guard Tyrell Ward.
The Rams stayed in the lead throughout the half. Djokovic scored a three-pointer, and first-year guard Nyk Lewis scored a second chance layup off of his own missed three-pointer.
VCU scored in all sorts of ways, be it from the perimeter or the paint, yet the Spider’s kept a win attainable — trailing by about nine points at most.
Jennings scored a contested layup with less than a minute remaining in the half. Richmond fourth-year center Mike Walz responded with two of his own.
VCU second-year guard Ahmad Nowell drained his second three pointer to close out the half, VCU up 39-29.
Richmond came into the second half with confidence, scoring a three-pointer from Walz.
The Rams responded with their own three pointer from Tracey, his third of the night, assisted by fourth-year forward Barry Evans, who showed effort on both ends of the court.
The rowdy Rams trapped the Spiders in their own web and made it difficult for them to compete. From early shot clock counts to chanting “air ball,” it looked as if VCU was slowly pulling the game out of reach.
Richmond redshirt second-year forward Jaylen Robinson took matters into his own hands through the following two possessions. He stole the ball from Hill, resulting in a layup after retaining an offensive rebound from third-year forward Michael Belle.
The Rams continued to add to their lead down the stretch of the second half.
In an effort to escape, the Spiders were forced to foul and send the Rams to the free throw line. VCU made seven out of eight of its attempts in the final minutes to secure the Capital City Classic victory 77-69.
“Being able to come out of the gates and start the game off great, translates to the next half as well,” VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. said. “When you get into a level of competition at this stage, in these two or three possession games, everything matters.”
Jennings — who helped close out the game — said it was an important win.
“It means a lot. It’s big for the community, the game and the importance behind it. So as us players, we’re just out there to compete, and that’s what we did,” Jennings said.
VCU will play its next game at the Siegel Center against Loyola Chicago on Friday, Jan. 30 at 9 p.m.