Jenny Allen, Staff Writer
VCU fans brought the energy for the sold out 82-63 homecoming win over Fordham University.
The Black and Gold won the opening tip, however the start of the game was a slow two-minute grind as neither team could score.
VCU’s second-year guard Brandon Jennings broke the dry spell as he knocked down a three pointer at the 17-minute mark.
Fordham’s first-year forward Roor Akhuar answered with Fordham’s first points four minutes into the game.
Dragging out the slow start, both teams continuously put up shots but struggled to knock them down.
VCU finally hit a groove after first-year guard Nyk Lewis knocked down a second chance three. Fourth-year forward Barry Evans then had a powerful drive to the basket, keeping the gym loud with a strong finish.
Lewis thrived off the hype and drained two straight three pointers in Fordham’s face, extending the lead to 21-8 halfway through the first.
VCU continued to feast around the rim as Evans lobbed it on the fastbreak to redshirt fourth-year guard Jadrian Tracey for a crowd-rising dunk.
Both Rams fell into a two minute drought at the six-minute mark. However, a deep three by second-year guard Ahmad Nowell ended VCU’s run.
VCU third-year forward Michael Belle showed off in the paint with an underhand layup. Third-year forward Lazar Djokovic followed with a driving layup with just over two minutes until halftime.
Djokovic continued his impact with an and-one three that gave the Black and Gold a four point play to send VCU into half up 37-22.
The Black and Gold started off the second half getting the first points on the board with a layup by Jennings.
Fordham quickly shut down VCU’s quick start to the second and went on a 13 point run, bringing VCU’s lead down to four points.
Tracey momentarily brought it to a halt with a timely three, hoping to regain their momentum.
Only five minutes into the sloppy second half, VCU accumulated six team fouls and narrowed its lead down to only two points with 15 minutes left.
Momentum started to build back up for VCU after second-year guard Terrence Hill Jr. knocked down a second chance three from the top of the key.
VCU finally started to break away from Fordham’s resilience and regained a double-digit lead with nine minutes left to play. The defense responded, holding Fordham to just over two minutes without scoring.
“Locking them on defense and then, I feel like we follow our plan really well,” Lewis said.
The high pressure from the Black and Gold challenged Fordham, leading Akhuar to foul out.
Jennings continued to extend the lead as he knocked down a transition three. VCU led 73-57 with five minutes remaining.
An impressive dish to Evans from Tracey under the basket lit the crowd up as he dunked over Fordham’s defense. Evans then made an alley-oop look easy, making it two-in-a-row and keeping the atmosphere electric in the closing minutes.
The dunks continued the domination as Djokovic slammed the ball in with two minutes remaining, securing VCU’s lead.
VCU finished the game scoring 54.5% with four players hitting double digits. VCU had 24 bench points and 13 second chance points, which is a necessity as it enters March.
“In March you need everybody and you need whatever contribution that anybody can give you,” VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. said. “It might be 30 seconds one possession like you got to give everything you can.”
VCU will play its final home game of the season against George Mason University on Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m.