Virginia Commonwealth 73, Alabama 54: Troy Daniels hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points as the host Rams beat the Crimson Tide for the first time.
Treveon Graham had 14 points and Melvin Johnson added 12 off the bench for the Rams (7-3), who have won four straight. VCU hit nine 3-pointers.
Devonta Pollard had 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench to lead the Crimson Tide (6-3).
VCU jumped to an 11-2 lead as Alabama missed its first eight shots and had nine turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game. Johnson and Daniels hit 3-pointers during a 12-0 run that pushed the lead to 26-7 with five minutes left in the first half.
The pair hit back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the Rams' lead to 60-35 with 10:51 left. A short time later, Pollard scored six points during a 15-5 Alabama run that got the Crimson Tide within 16.
GAME NOTEBOOK: VCU is 6-2 when hosting BCS-affiliated teams since opening the Siegel Center in 1999. ... Rams coach Shaka Smart has a win against each BCS conference in his four years at VCU. ... The Rams scored 19 points off 16 Alabama turnovers.
Alabama | VCU | |
Devonta Pollard 13 | Scoring | Troy Daniels 16 |
Trevor Lacey 2 | Assists | Teddy Okereafor 4 |
Devonta Pollard 8 | Rebounds | Treveon Graham 6 |
Rodney Cooper 3 | Free Throws Made | Treveon Graham 6 |
Retin Obasohan 2 | Steals | Darius Theus 3 |
Retin Obasohan 1 | Blocks | D.J. Haley 2 |