Notebook: VCU rally comes up short, Longwood tests Pitt before losing late

VCU got 19 points from freshman guard Nyk Lewis, but a late bucket by Utah State’s Garry Clark helped the Aggies hold off the Rams in an 80-77 win Friday night.

Lewis, playing in just his second collegiate game, knocked down 7-of-13 attempts from the floor, including 4-of-9 from three-point range, to lead four Rams in double figures.

Senior guard Jadrian Tracey provided 16 points and three assists for the Rams (1-1).

MJ Collins led all players with 22 points to spark the Aggies (2-0), who led by 64-46 with 11:28 to go, before a VCU rally actually tied the game at 76-all on a steal and layup by junior guard Tyrell Ward with 34 seconds left.

That bucket capped a 14-1 Rams run that included seven straight points by Lewis.

On Utah State’s ensuing possession, Collins laid in an offensive rebound with 15 ticks on the clock to give the Aggies the lead for good. The Rams split a pair of free throws on their next possession, and Collins knocked down a pair at the charity stripe moments later.

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Longwood gave Pitt everything it could handle before the Panthers pulled away late to post a 78-60 win on Friday night.

Johan Nziemi set the tone for a physical Lancer side with 16 efficient points on the interior. Jacoi Hutchinson and Alphonso Billups III both broke double figures on the perimeter, with Hutchinson booking 13 points while Billups added 11.

Pitt (2-0) led 33-28 at the break, but Longwood (1-1) took a 37-36 lead at the 17:22 mark of the second half on a tip-in by Nziemi, and it was still a close game inside of seven minutes to go – another tip-in, by Elijah Tucker, cut the Pitt lead to six, at 59-53.

The Panthers went on an 11-2 run thereafter to get the lead back into double figures and coasted from there.

“Appreciative of Pittsburgh having us up. I thought it was a really good game,” Longwood coach Ronnie Thomas said. “We challenged our guys to play to the standard. It’s never really about the scoreboard. For most of the night, we played to our standard and to that level, and then we had lapses. Early in the season, this is a great opportunity for us to learn that. We’ll take that on the chin and be better from it. It was a great test for us.”