RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, the VCU Rams used a dominant first-half stretch and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch to hold off a persistent Richmond Spiders team 77-69 in an Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at a sold-out Siegel Center.

A crowd of 7,637 saw the Rams improve to 15-6 overall, while the Spiders fell to 13-9. The victory was VCU’s eighth in its last nine games, while Richmond dropped its third straight contest.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the first half, turning a tight opening into a contest VCU would control for the remainder of the night. After Richmond’s AJ Lopez connected on an early 3-pointer to give the Spiders a brief 7-4 lead, VCU unleashed a decisive 21-2 run over a seven-minute span. The surge was fueled by balanced scoring and stifling defense. Terrence Hill and Jadrian Tracey hit from beyond the arc, Lazar Djokovic worked inside, and Nyk Lewis provided energy off the bench with put-backs and hustle plays. The run transformed a three-point deficit into a commanding 25-9 advantage, silencing the contingent of Spider supporters and energizing the raucous home environment.

Richmond, to its credit, refused to capitulate. The Spiders chipped away behind the interior presence of Mike Walz and the scoring of Lopez, closing the half on a 10-3 spurt to trim VCU’s lead to 39-29 at the intermission. The Rams’ first-half efficiency was key; they shot 50% from the field and built their lead despite attempting only two free throws.

The second half became a game of attempted rallies and answered blows. Each time Richmond threatened to slice the deficit to a single possession, VCU found a response. When the Spiders closed to within 51-45 on a Jaden Daughtry layup with just over 13 minutes to play, VCU’s Brandon Jennings answered with a driving layup. Moments later, after a Daughtry score made it 53-47, Nyk Lewis sank a crucial 3-pointer to push the lead back to nine.

The Spiders’ final significant push came inside the final five minutes. Trailing 65-57, Richmond’s Aiden Argabright hit a pull-up jumper, and after a VCU turnover, Mike Walz was fouled and made two free throws to bring the Spiders within four at 65-61 with 3:08 remaining, forcing a VCU timeout.

Out of the stoppage, however, VCU delivered the knockout sequence. On the ensuing possession, Michael Belle sank a corner 3-pointer off an assist from Terrence Hill, stretching the lead back to seven. Richmond then committed a costly turnover, and VCU expertly managed the final two minutes from the foul line. The Rams made 10 of 12 free throws in the last 1:14 to seal the victory, a testament to their composure and a glaring statistical advantage. For the game, VCU attempted 27 free throws, making 22, while Richmond went just 10 for 14 from the line.

VCU’s victory was a product of depth and offensive balance. Brandon Jennings, a Richmond native, led the Rams with 12 points. He was one of six VCU players to score in double figures, joined by Lazar Djokovic and Terrence Hill with 14 each, Jadrian Tracey with 11, and Nyk Lewis and Michael Belle with 11 apiece. The Rams shared the ball effectively and scored 77 points on just 23 made field goals, leveraging their trips to the foul line and nine 3-pointers.

Richmond was led by AJ Lopez’s game-high 17 points. Center Mike Walz was a force inside, finishing with 16 points and a game-high 9 rebounds. Jaden Daughtry provided a spark off the bench with 10 points. The Spiders shot a respectable 47.4% from the field but were ultimately undone by VCU’s first-half run and their inability to consistently get stops without fouling in the second half.

The game was a tale of two offensive approaches. Richmond operated efficiently in the half-court, posting an offensive rating of 113.8 points per 100 possessions. VCU, however, was more potent at 124.5, maximizing their opportunities by getting to the line and converting. Both teams committed only seven turnovers, making each possession a high-stakes battle.

VCU now looks ahead to a Friday night home contest against Loyola Chicago. Richmond, seeking to snap its skid, returns home to host Davidson on Saturday. The two city rivals are scheduled to meet again in a home-and-home series on February 14 and 16.