RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Rams (2-0) are squaring off against No. 5 Blue Devils (2-1) tonight at Madison Square Garden. The winner will play Georgetown on Sunday.
Feel free to be a participant: Send me a video of your pre-game, in-game, and/or post-game analysis to rcrocker@wric.com and I might post it. Remember kids, keep it clean, your parents could be watching!
17:06 — A couple of early buckets from Mo Alie-Cox has VCU up, 4-0.
14:56 — Just like that. Duke shows how quick they can strike. 11-8, Duke.
Deep thought: I’d rather not hear about the announcers talk about Mo Alie-Cox becoming a football player. His focus needs to be on his game.
13:47 — Korey Billbury has a layup. 11-11 tie. He is the x-factor for VCU.
12:30 — Melvin Johnson’s floater ties the game at 13.
Deep thought: I wonder how many times Dick Vitale will reference Eric Maynor? I also wonder when I will mute the broadcast?
10:52 — VCU opens up a 4-point lead.
Deep thought: Will Wade needs a signature win so that everyone will stop talking about Shaka Smart. Don’t get me wrong — loved what Shaka did for VCU. But he has left the building.
9:04 — Alie-Cox layup increases VCU’s lead, 24-19.
5:44 — Shades of Weber, headband and all. Billbury steals the ball and scores. VCU 28-26.
4:22 — 3-pointer, Johnson (who else?) 31-31.
Stat line: No surprise — Melvin Johnson leads the Rams with 10 points.
1:01 — Coach K calls a TO after VCU goes up 37-34.
12.7 — Coach K calls another TO after VCU goes up 39-35.
Halftime — Duke nails a 3-pointer just before the buzzer. VCU leads 39-38.
Stat line: Melvin Johnson leads the Rams with 12 points. Alie-Cox has added 7 points but only 2 boards. Jordan Burgess has picked some of the slack grabbing 5 of the Rams’ 15 rebounds.
Analysis: A good first-half effort, but Duke can score in bunches. Hopefully, Wade is preaching that in the locker room. This game is far from over. The Rams need to come out of the gate running and build a good lead against this Duke squad (that was some serious Xs and Os).
18:05 — It’s like they were reading the blog during halftime. VCU is up by 4, 44-40.
15:16 — Another steal from Billbury, but Duke gets the ball back. 47-46 VCU.
14:00 — What a dunk by Alie-Cox, VCU 52-46.
12:12 — And just like that again. A 3-ball from Duke gives them a 53-52 lead.
Stat line: Both teams are shooting above 50 percent from the field.
10:00 — Duke is showing why they are ranked No. 5. 60-55 Duke.
9:49 — Melvin Johnson is perfect from the 3-point line (4-4) 60-58 Duke.
Stat line: Duke is on a 10-3 run. 65-58 Duke.
6:17 — Ouch, 3-ball from Duke’s Grayson Allen puts Duke up by 10, 68-58.
4:28 — Scoop and score from Allen. He has a game high 28. Duke 72-60.
2:15 — VCU making a mini run but it might be too late. Duke 73-66.
11.0 — Dick Vitale just made it creepy by asking why he is not the sexiest man alive.
Final: Duke 79-71…
Analysis: Duke can score in bursts, Grayson Allen IS that good (30 points off the bench) and VCU needs someone besides Johnson (20 points) to score 18-23 points per game.
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