VCU Aims for Atlantic 10 Title, Season Sweep of Dayton

PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Atlantic 10 men’s basketball tournament championship will be decided Sunday between the conference’s top two seeds, as VCU faces Dayton at 84 Lumber Arena.

The top-seeded Rams (26-7) seek their first A-10 tournament title since 2015 and a third victory this season over their longtime conference rival. The second-seeded Flyers (23-9) look to avenge two regular-season losses and secure the league’s automatic NCAA tournament bid.

Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 15.

VCU, installed as a 3-point favorite, defeated Dayton 99-73 at home on Feb. 6 and again 68-62 on the road on March 6. Interstat’s ELO system gives the Rams a 62.9% probability to win. The over/under is 141.

The Rams advanced with a 77-64 semifinal win over Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. Guard Terrence Hill, a player to watch, scored 18 points in 23 minutes. He averages 16.3 points in his last three games and had 13 points in the March 6 win at Dayton.

Dayton needed a last-second basket to edge Saint Louis 70-69 in its semifinal. Flyers guard Jordan Derkack erupted for 28 points in 27 minutes in that victory. His recent form is pivotal; after being held to 2 points in the loss to VCU, he has averaged 19.3 points over his last three contests.

Both teams enter on winning streaks. VCU has won five straight, while Dayton has won seven of its last eight, with the lone loss coming to the Rams.

The championship matchup features the A-10’s most efficient offenses. VCU leads the conference in scoring at 78.2 points per game, while Dayton ranks third at 74.8.

The winner claims the A-10’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Both teams are considered likely to receive at-large bids should they fall short Sunday.