VCU Overpowers La Salle with Second-Half Surge

Richmond, VA – Following a 41-point victory over the Richmond Spiders, the VCU Rams returned to the Siegel Center on Tuesday evening, defeating the La Salle Explorers 96-66. Joe Bamisile led the Rams with 17 points, while Tunde Valberg Fasasi paced the Explorers with 11 points.

La Salle briefly held the lead early as Daeshon Shepherd connected on a three-point play, putting the Explorers up 3-0. The Rams responded with an 8-0 run fueled by a pair of three-pointers from Jack Clark and Max Shulga, along with a layup by Joe Bamisile, giving VCU an 8-3 lead with 16:48 remaining in the first half. The Explorers countered as Mac Etienne’s layup capped a 6-0 run to put La Salle ahead 9-8. Daeshon Shepherd’s layup with 12:08 remaining in the first half tied the game at 16.

VCU quickly regained control with a 13-0 run sparked by Brandon Jennings, who scored five points during the stretch, pushing the Rams ahead 29-16. They maintained their advantage throughout the first half, taking a 48-28 lead into the break.

The Rams continued their dominance in the second half, scoring 19 consecutive points to extend their lead to 77-38 with 11:26 remaining. Terrence Hill Jr.’s three-pointer gave VCU its largest lead of the night at 85-45. The Rams controlled the game the rest of the way, ultimately cruising to a 96-66 victory.

Now 18-5 overall and 8-2 in Atlantic 10 play, VCU will face Dayton on Friday, February 7, at UD Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

BOX SCORE

Rams Make Statement with Largest Win in Rivalry History

Richmond, VA – The VCU Rams delivered a commanding performance against their crosstown rivals, the Richmond Spiders, securing a dominant 90-49 win. The Rams shot 64.7% from the field and 55% from three-point range while forcing 15 Spiders turnovers, which they converted into 25 points.

The 41-point victory marks the largest margin in the 94-game series history and the highest point total the Rams have scored this season. Max Shulga led VCU with 20 points, while Dusan Neskovic paced the Spiders with 12.

Richmond briefly held the lead early when B. Artis White completed a three-point play, giving the Spiders a 3-2 advantage with 17:55 remaining in the first half. However, it would be their only lead of the game. The Rams quickly responded with a 12-0 run, capped by a Joe Bamisile dunk, to go up 14-3.

VCU extended its lead as Zeb Jackson knocked down two free throws to finish a 6-0 run, pushing the score to 24-7. Jackson later added two three-pointers, Christian Fermin’s layup & Shulga drained another from beyond the arc as they went on an 11-0 run to close the first half, sending them into the break with a commanding 44-13 advantage.

Bamisile opened the second half with a three-pointer, extending VCU’s run to 14-0—its largest of the game—giving the Rams a 47-13 lead. Richmond attempted to respond as White’s jumper capped an 8-0 Spiders run, cutting the deficit to 47-21 with 17:40 remaining. However, VCU quickly regained momentum, with Shulga drilling a three-pointer to cap an 11-0 run and extend the Rams’ lead to 63-26.

The Rams maintained control for the remainder of the game, ultimately cruising to a 90-49 victory.

Now 17-5 overall and 7-2 in Atlantic 10 play, VCU will face La Salle on Tuesday, February 4, at the Siegel Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

How the Washington Commanders Can Defeat the Eagles and Reach Super Bowl LIX

The Washington Commanders Return to the NFC Championship

For the first time since the 1991 season, the Washington Commanders will play in the NFC Championship, facing their NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. This marks the fifth time two teams from the NFC East will meet in the NFC Championship. The last such matchup occurred in the 1986 NFC Championship, where the New York Giants defeated the then-Washington Redskins 17-0. In the previous four meetings, the home team has emerged victorious.

This will be the second postseason meeting between the Eagles and the Commanders. Washington defeated Philadelphia 20-6 in the 1990 Wild Card round.

The Commanders enter this game riding a seven-game winning streak, while the Eagles have won 14 of their last 15 games. The two teams split the regular-season series: Philadelphia won the first matchup in Week 11, defeating Washington 26-18, thanks to Saquon Barkley’s 146 rushing yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Washington claimed the second matchup in Week 16 with a thrilling 36-33 victory, overcoming a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit. In that game, Jayden Daniels threw five touchdowns, including three in the fourth quarter and a game-winning pass with six seconds remaining.

For the third installment of this storied NFC East rivalry, here are three critical keys the Commanders must execute to clinch a berth in Super Bowl LIX.

1. Control the Clock

The Commanders’ success this postseason has largely stemmed from their ability to dominate time of possession (TOP) and extend drives through third- and fourth-down efficiency.

In their Wild Card victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Commanders controlled the ball for 35:26, converting 8 of 15 third downs and 3 of 5 fourth downs. In the Divisional Round win over the Detroit Lions, Washington maintained possession for 33:59, going 4 of 12 on third down and 3 of 4 on fourth down.

To defeat the Eagles, the Commanders must continue this trend. Sustaining drives and keeping the Eagles' potent offense off the field will be essential.

2. Jayden Daniels’ Mobility

A key factor in Sunday’s game will be quarterback Jayden Daniels’ ability to make plays with his legs.

In Week 11, Daniels was limited to just 18 yards on seven carries. However, in Week 16, he broke out for 81 rushing yards on nine carries. When Daniels is effective as a runner, it opens up the offense, creating opportunities for running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler to move the chains. It also forces the Eagles’ defense to second-guess his next move, making Washington’s offense less predictable.

3. Force Jalen Hurts to Be a Passer

For Washington to succeed, they must dictate the tempo and build an early lead. This would force Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to rely on his passing rather than his running ability.

In last week’s victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Hurts completed 15 of 20 passes for 128 yards. He also rushed for 70 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown on the opening possession. The Eagles excel in the run game, ranking second in time of possession with an average of 32:22 per game. Limiting Hurts’ ability to run and making him a passer will give Washington a better chance to control the clock and neutralize Philadelphia’s strengths.

While there are numerous factors that could influence the outcome, these three keys—controlling the clock, utilizing Jayden Daniels’ mobility, and making Jalen Hurts a passer—are interlinked. If the Commanders execute them effectively, they should find themselves punching their ticket to Super Bowl LIX.