Troy Daniels had 23 points, Juvonte Reddic scored 21 and VCU routed Akron 88-42 on Thursday night in the most lopsided victory by a fifth-seeded team over a No. 12 in NCAA tournament history.
The veteran Billikens stayed just poised enough against the Rams' frenetic defensive pressure and a hostile crowd to win only the second conference tournament crown in school history.
Rob Brandenberg's contested 3-pointer from the corner with the shot clock about to expire might go down as the worst shot VCU attempted against UMass on Saturday. It was also the Rams' biggest basket.
VCU (25-7) made 11 of its first 21 3-point attempts to go up by 17 with just over eight minutes left. Then the second-seeded Rams kept taking 3-pointers early in the shot clock and missed their last seven.
Troy Daniels scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half when VCU' forced 14 turnovers and turned them into 24 points on their way to a 45-21 lead. For the game, the Bulldogs tied their season high was 23 turnovers, leading to 34 points for VCU.
The junior forward scored a season-high 24 points and Virginia Commonwealth blitzed George Washington with an 18-6 run to close the first half, then never let the Colonials closer than 12 thereafter in a 84-57 victory Saturday night.
RICHMOND | Coach Shaka Smart, VCU and the Rams' "havoc" style of play are back in the national spotlight.
Will Sheehey had two options when he grabbed the loose ball: back it out and play for the final shot of regulation, or take the open jumper.
Shaka Smart and Co. pulled off the first major surprise of the NCAA tournament.
