Recap: UR uses 18-2 run to upset #14 VCU

Richmond upset #14 Virginia Commonwealth University in the Stuart C. Siegel Center 64-55 Saturday afternoon.

January 31, 2015; 4:36 PM • by Aaron Williams

Richmond upset #14 Virginia Commonwealth University in the Stuart C. Siegel Center 64-55 Saturday afternoon.

Recap

VCU’s defense was dominant to start the game and they led by 11 points late in the first half despite anemic offense, but Richmond pieced together an 18-2 run to build up a lead they would never relinquish.

Richmond was never dominant on offense, but they strung together an impressive streak of 3-pointers to start the second half which knocked the Rams on their heels and VCU never settled down. Richmond finished 6-of-19 from 3-point range while VCU finished an abysmal 3-of-20 from 3-point range.

After combining for 21 points on 25 shots against George Washington on Wednesday, Trevon Graham, Melvin Johnson, and Briante Weber were much better on Saturday. Graham (6-9 2PFG, 0-2 3PFG) finished with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Johnson (2-6 2PFG, 2-6 2PFG) finished with 10 points but it took 12 shots. Weber (4-6 2PFG, 1-1 3PFG) added 11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 6 steals.

Briante Weber

With 3:17 remaining in the game, Briante Weber tore his right ACL, MCL, and meniscus. The injuries effectively end the college basketball career of the senior point guard. The tragic injury which happened without contact is eerily similar to the career-ending meniscus tear that Richmond’s Cedrick Lindsay suffered in the Siegel Center against VCU one year ago.

Weber was just 12 steals away from breaking the NCAA Record for career steals, but it is wrong to even think about attempting to quantify Weber’s spirit and energy in any way. For the first time since the Final Four, HAVOC! will consistently have to find its defense without the most energetic person Coach Smart has ever met, Briante Weber.

5 stats

• Saturday was Richmond’s first win in the Siegel Center since February 27th, 2001.
• Richmond entered the Siegel Center 0-of-7 on the road. It was their first road victory since topping Duquense February 12th of 2014.
• Kendall Anthony scored 53 points in his final two visits to the Siegel Center.
• Briante Weber finished with 6 steals. It was his 25th career game with 5+ steals which is ridiculous.
• 98 of Coach Smart’s 154 career wins involved Briante Weber on the court. It’s almost impossible to remember HAVOC! without VCU’s MAN OF STEAL!.

Top performer: Kendall Anthony

22 points (5-10 2PFG, 1-5 3PFG, 9-11 FTs), 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 5 turnovers

After only scoring two points in the first half, Kendall Anthony scored 20 points in the second half including several clutch free-throws down the stretch to seal the victory. It was a gutsy performance worthy of the senior’s final visit to the Siegel Center.

Looking forward

VCU will look to regroup at George Mason at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, February 4th. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

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Related

• What to expect: Black and Blue Classic 1.0

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January 31, 2015 4:36 PM 0