BALDWIN’S CAREER NIGHT LEADS VCU PAST VANDERBILT 70-65
Score: VCU 70, Vanderbilt 65
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 5-2, Vanderbilt 3-4
The short story: Sophomore guard Ace Baldwin Jr. erupted for a career-high 28 points as VCU built an 11-point second-half lead and held on for a nail-biting win Wednesday at the Siegel Center.
OPENING TIP
- Baldwin knocked down 7-of-14 from the floor and connected on 10-of-12 free throws in his first game back since suffering a right wrist injury on Nov. 12
- Redshirt sophomore forward Jamir Watkins joined Baldwin Jr. in double figures with 13 points, just two off of his career-high 15. Watkins got a majority of his points via free throws, shooting 7-of-11 from the line
- Freshman forward Tobi Lawal added a career-high four points and put in a solid defensive effort in 12 minutes of action for the Rams
- Sophomore forward Jalen DeLoach led the Rams with six rebounds, while graduate student forward Brandon Johns Jr. added seven points and five rebounds
- Vanderbilt saw three players score in double figures, led by Myle Stute's 20 points, who hit 6-of-9 from beyond the 3-point arc. Liam Robbins and Ezra Manjon added 14 and 12 points, respectively
- In a game that featured 15 ties and eight lead changes, Baldwin pushed the Rams in front for the final time with a pair of free throws with 3:14 remaining. Vanderbilt pulled within 66-64, but Baldwin answered again, driving left of the lane for bucket with 51 ticks on the clock. Watkins helped salt away the win with a fadeaway jumper to beat the shot clock with 16.8 second remaining
- Vanderbilt got within three at 54-51 before it was assessed three technical fouls, one to Robbins and two to Head Coach Jerry Stackhouse. Stackhouse was ejected, and Baldwin made 4-of-6 free throws to give VCU a 58-51 lead with 7:59 on the clock
- The Commodores later put together a 9-0 run to tie the game at 61 with 3:56 remaining. The Rams responded by outscoring Vanderbilt 9-4 the rest of the way to seal the victory
- VCU made 37 trips to the free throw line and connected on 25
- VCU went on a 6-0 run in the final 1:11 of the first half to open up a 35-28 halftime lead. They then built that lead up to 11 with 18:23 left, allowing them to play with the lead for most of the second half
"He's a competitive freak. And I say that with unbelievable respect. You got to kill him to beat him. He loves competition. He's not afraid of the spotlight, he's not afraid of pressure situations. He's very hard on himself and even harder on his teammates but it's because he wants to win so bad and he gives other guys competitive confidence and he has always been like that, that's why I liked him so much in high school. And he's just tough, he's just really tough. He made plays on both ends of the court and kept our guys calm." – Head Coach Mike Rhoades on Ace Baldwin
NOTABLE
- VCU has won 10 straight games at the Siegel Center
- The Rams have won three straight games against SEC foes and are now 2-2 all-time against Vanderbilt
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