RICHMOND, VA: The VCU Rams kicked off their 57th season on Monday, defeating the Bellarmine Knights 84-65. The Rams were led by Max Shulga, who had 19 points and went 6-6 from the field (4-4 on 3-point attempts). Four Rams scored in Double Figures (Phillip Russell 16 points, Jack Clark 11 points, Joe Bamisille 18 points). Joe Bamisile scored his 1,000th point on Monday, joining Max Shulga, Phillip Russell, and Jack Clark as 1,000-point scorers in their collegiate career. The Rams connected on 15 of 29 3-pointers and shot 53% from the field (29-55). The Knights were led by Ben Johnson & Dezmond McKinney, who had 15 points apiece. The Rams were without Zeb Jackson, named A 10 Preseason All-Defensive Team. Jackson suffered a fracture to the fourth metacarpal bone in his left hand. The timetbale for recovery is 4-6 weeks.
Joe Bamisille's thunderous dunks put the Rams on the board in the first 23 seconds of the game. Max Shulga's 3-pointer with 13:05 remaining in the 1st half put the Rams on a 6-0 run as the Rams led 16-8. On the following possession, Dezmond McKinney's layup ended the Rams' 6-0 run. Phillip Russell's 4-point play capped a Rams 7-0 Run as the Rams led 26-15 with 9:26 remaining in the 1st half. The Knights responded with an 8-0 Run to cut the Rams lead to 3 (26-23). The Rams would counter as Max Shulga nailed a pair of Free Throws to put the Rams on a 9-0 run to put the Rams up 35-23 with 4:23 remaining in the 1st half. The Rams had their most significant lead in the 1st half, leading 38-25 with 4:05 remaining. The Knights countered with a 6-0 run to cut the Rams lead to 7 with 2:49 remaining in the 1st half. The Rams led 45-38 at Halftime.
Joe Bamilisile's pair of dunks electrified the crowd of 7,637 to extend the Rams' longest game run (10-0) and the largest lead (19) as the Rams led 70-51 with 10:13 remaining in the 2nd half. Jack Karasinski's 3-pointer ended the Ram's 10-0 run. Micheal Belle hit 1of two free throws to cap a 7-0 run for the Rams as they led 81-63 with 2:58 remaining in the game. The Rams held on to defeat the Knights 84-65
The Rams (1-0) will face Boston College on Friday, November 8th, in the Veterans Classic at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The tip-off is scheduled for 6 PM.
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