VCU had to adjust its schedule when the Volunteer Classic was canceled pretty much at the last minute. The Rams’ trip to South Dakota got off to a nice start.
Sophomore Bones Hyland set a career-high with 23 points and junior Vince Williams helped key a decisive second-half blitz as VCU topped Utah State, 85-69, Wednesday at the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic.
Hyland scored 15 of his 23 points in the first half. He finished 6-of-12 from the floor, including 5-of-10 from three-point range.
Williams poured in 13 of his career-high 15 points in the second half to help VCU’s late surge.
Junior guard KeShawn Curry added 10 points and six rebounds to the mix for VCU.
Neemias Queta recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Aggies.
VCU trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half, but Hyland buried a three-pointer, and Curry scooped up back-to-back Utah State turnovers for fast-break buckets, to spark an 18-0 Rams run that gave them a 74-63 lead with 5:00 remaining.
The Rams held Utah State without a field goal for nearly 11 minutes down the stretch. VCU outscored the Aggies 29-6 the final 10:56.
VCU shot 53 percent (28-of-53) from the field, including 10-of-24 from three-point range, and held Utah State to 32 percent (9-of-28) shooting in the second half.
The Rams advance to face 15th-ranked West Virginia at 2:30 p.m. today in the semifinals of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic.
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