NCAAB Game Recap - Alabama State at VCU
Mon Nov 25, 2019 7:00 PM EST

VaTec
71
MSU
66
F
Kansas
93
Chami
63
F
Kent
52
OhSt
71
F
Chat
46
Tenn
58
F
Aub
84
NM
59
F
ASU
62
VCU
78
F
NE
62
USA
74
F
ColSt
70
NMSt
78
F(OT)
(N/A)
51
Drex
84
F
Yale
73
W MI
51
F
GrCan
68
IlSt
63
F
LoyIL
55
SoFL
66
F
Drake
59
Mia-O
67
F
Seatt
70
Buck
77
F
UGA
61
Dayt
80
F
Ford
64
W Ky
69
F
Detr
62
UL
81
F
WriSt
72
Web
57
F
GMas
60
ODU
53
F
IUPUI
77
LoyMD
81
F
Valpa
77
Cin
81
F(OT)
KSU
59
Pitt
63
F
(N/A)
83
Winth
127
F
Wisc
52
Rich
62
F
Butl
63
Mizzu
52
F
Ark
62
GaTec
61
F(OT)
Lipsco
78
TNTec
65
F
(N/A)
56
NoKY
86
F
ChiSt
56
FSU
113
F
WaSt
71
Nebras
82
F
Murr
64
LaSal
75
F
South
51
NebOm
78
F
Troy
66
AlaAM
80
F
CSNor
84
WIGB
85
F
SeLA
70
Vand
78
F
TAMIn
52
UTRGV
79
F
AbCh
56
TxSt
61
F
(N/A)
45
ORU
99
F
Oakl
50
NIU
74
F
SCSt
66
APSU
92
F
JU
57
Campbl
62
F
Nev
77
BGSU
62
F
ChBap
67
ArkPB
75
F
LaTec
75
Ind
88
F
Brad
51
NW
78
F
TXSo
62
Mont
74
F
Okla
54
Stan
73
F
TNSt
49
SDSU
62
F
BYU
78
UCLA
63
F

Nov 25, 2019, 7:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Alabama State

28

34

62

(20) VCU

46

32

78

Evans scores 25 as No. 20 VCU drubs Alabama State 78-62
Mon Nov 25, 2019 10:36 PM

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) The players at VCU are making no apologies for what has largely been a soft schedule to date, save for a visit from then-ranked LSU.

"These games prepare us for what we are about to face in the next month," Isaac Vann said after Marcus Evans scored 25 points and No. 20 VCU closed the first half on a big run in a 78-62 victory against Alabama State on Monday night. It was the Rams' third blowout victory in a row, all at the Siegel Center.

That all changes starting Friday, when the Rams will face Purdue in the Emerald Coast Classic, then either Florida State or No. 17 Tennessee the next day.

It's all part of the plan, Rams coach Mike Rhoades said.

"We made it that way," he said. "The next six games until Christmas, about 25 days, unbelievable schedule. I'm not sure anybody in the country will have a month like we will coming up, but we have seniors, we have guys that have great experience, we have plenty of guys that can help us find ways to win these games."

They won this one pretty much before halftime.

Evans had 18 points in the first half, including 10 during a 26-7 burst that gave VCU (6-0) a 46-28 lead. The Rams led by 19 after halftime, and when the Hornets closed within 12 with 9 minutes left, the Rams turned up their defense and scored the next seven points.

Tobi Ewuosho scored 17 points and Kevion Stewart 14 for Alabama State (0-5), which has played three AP Top 25 teams in its first five games.

The Rams trailed 21-20 before Mike'L Simms' 3-pointer sparked the big run over the final 8:18 of the half. Evans scored 10 and Simms eight during the burst.

"He's tough. He's a big dog and he played well, and he sat a lot," Hornets coach Lewis Jackson said of Evans, who was 8 for 11 from the field, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range. He also had three assists and did not commit a turnover is slightly less than 20 minutes.

BIG PICTURE

Alabama State: The Hornets have the unenviable task of not only playing their first 15 games away from home, including four neutral site games, but they've already faced No. 8 Gonzaga, No. 17 Tennessee and VCU, and will also see No. 11 Oregon and Kansas State. They came into the game at the Siegel Center having lost their first four by an average of 24.2 points.

VCU: The Rams won their only game so far against a Power Five school, beating then-ranked LSU 84-82, but their schedule takes a significant upswing after Thanksgiving as they play Purdue on Friday and then either Florida State or No. 17 Tennessee, with both games coming in the Emerald Coast Classic in Florida.

BRING `EM ON

Evans said he and his teammates don't care what others think of the schedule they have played and hopes they will prove their worth going forward. After the Emerald Coast tournament, they'll face rival Old Dominion and Missouri State at home and Charleston and Wichita State on the road.

"If a team has a question, they could just sign us up for the schedule and play us themselves," he said. "Come to Siegel or we'll go there and we can play and figure it out then."

HEAT CHECK

Evans most glaring flaw on the night was a fallaway 3-pointer he tried from the corner in front of the Hornets' bench after making two in a row.

"That was a terrible shot," he said. "It was a heat check, but it was a terrible shot."

Making it worse, Evans was whistled for a foul on the play for extending his leg on the shot and making contact with an opposing player.

UP NEXT

The Hornets will be on the road for the sixth consecutive game, facing Chattanooga in the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Florida.

The Rams will be on the road for the first time this season, facing Purdue in the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Florida.

---

More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Alabama State PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
T. Ewuosho 17 0 2 6 0 2
K. Stewart 14 0 1 3 1 0
VCU PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
M. Evans 25 0 3 2 1 0
N. Hyland 12 0 0 1 1 1

Team Comparison

ASU VCU
Points For 62 78
Field Goals 21/55-38% 25/53-47%
Three Pointers 8/22-36% 12/22-55%
Free Throws 12/17-71% 16/27-59%
Offensive Rebounds 11 8
Defensive Rebounds 27 25
Rebounds 41 36
Blocks 3 6
Steals 4 11
Turnovers 16 11
Personal Fouls 21 16
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2019-20 Reg Season - VCU Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Mon Nov 25 ASU 62 @ VCU 78 T. Ewuosho 17 M. Evans 25

Game Information

Stadium: Stuart Siegel Center, Richmond, Virginia
Attendance: 7,637
Game Time: