VCU wins the A-10 Conference Championship. I am your host, Evan Petzold, signing out. Stay tuned with VAVEL USA as we bring you recaps and more live coverage from others events.
Heck of a game from both teams. VCU and Dayton fought so hard to the finish, but one team gave a tiny bit more. Treveon Graham led the Rams with 20 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. He is the VAVEL USA Player of the Game!
2nd Half (0:00) VCU - 71, Dayton - 65
2nd Half (0:01) Treveon Graham makes both free throws to seal the game. 71-65, VCU Rams with the win.
2nd Half (0:02) Scoochie Smith misses the layup. It is over for Dayton.
2nd Half (0:079) Lewis' second shot from the stripe is GOOD! Dayton has the ball going down the court. They are down by four points.
Dayton Timeout: VCU 68, Dayton 65
2nd Half (0:079) A quick foul from Dayton will send JeQuan Lewis to the line for two shots. He makes the first.
VCU can not get the ball in bounds. Everyone is looking for a five second call, but VCU calls a quick timeout.
2nd Half (0:08) Dayton tips the ball out of bounds. VCU still has the ball.
Their is a question on the last call made. It could go either way. The refs are at the monitor.
The possession points to VCU. Keep that in mind.
2nd Half (0:10) Jordan Sibert at the line to shoot his final free throw. The leader knocks it down. VCU leads by just two!
VCU Timeout: VCU 67, Dayton 64
2nd Half (0:10) JeQuan Lewis fouls Jordan Sibert in the act of shooting a three point jumper. He makes the first two shots and the third is coming soon.
2nd Half (0:28) Kyle Davis fouls Terry Larrier. Larrier is almost a 70 percent free throw shooter. He makes them both and VCU is back up by five.
2nd Half (0:30) Dyshawn Pierre goes coast-to-coast, then dishes it off to Kendall Pollard who throws it down with poise. VCU leads by just three points.
2nd Half (0:40) Darrell Davis fouls to send Terry Larrier to the line. He hits them both and puts the Rams up by five.
2nd Half (0:40) Graham commits the foul and Kendall Pollard goes 1-for-2 on that set from the stripe. Dayton is down by three.
This game is coming down to the wire. This could be an ending we remember forever. Let's see how it unfolds.
Dayton Timeout: VCU 63, Dayton 59
2nd Half (0:53) Scoochie Smith turns the ball over and Doug Brooks heads the other way for VCU. He dishes it off to Lewis who makes the layup.
2nd Half (1:17) Treveon Graham makes the layup to give the Rams at two point lead.
2nd Half (1:46) Jordan Sibert is fouled by Mo Alie-Cox. He goes to the line.. and makes them both. Dayton ties it up at 59.
2nd Half (2:13) JeQuan Lewis makes the layup to give VCU the lead, 59-57.
2nd Half (2:40) Mo Alie-Cox with a layup and then on the other end Smith finishes at the rim. Tie game again, knotted at 57.
2nd Half (3:13) BANG! Dyshawn Pierre knocks down a three point jumper, assisted by Scoochie Smith. We have a tie game, 55-55.
2nd Half (3:27) Mo Alie-Cox misses both free throws! What a turn in events. It was a very smart foul by Kendall Pollard. If he did not foul, Alie-Cox would have had an easy layup.
Media Timeout: VCU 55, Dayton 52
2nd Half (4:09) JeQuan Lews makes the layup and VCU takes a three point lead.
VCU Timeout: VCU 53, Dayton 52
2nd (4:25) Scoochie Smith makes two layups to make this a one point basketball game! WOW!
2nd (4:54) JaQuan Lews gets fouled and misses the first, but makes the second. His team is up by five.
2nd (5:18) Kendall Pollard makes the first free throw, but misses the second. Dayton is down by four.
2nd (5:38) Graham makes the layup and VCU leads, 52-47.
2nd (6:17): Kyle Davis gets ahead of the break and finishes the layup. 50-47 VCU
2nd (6:56): Alie-Cox is called for a travel. That will give Dayton a fresh 35 on the shot clock.
Media Timeout: VCU 50, Dayton 45
2nd (7:02): BLOCK! Mo Alie-Cox sends Dyshawn Pierre's shot into the first row as we reach the media timeout.
2nd (7:29): Loose ball on the floor, Timeout Dayton. They will have possession after the short timeout.
2nd (8:14): Melvin Johnson with a big feed to Mo Alie-Cox in the lane for the easy lay-up. 50-45 VCU
2nd (8:59): Jordan Sibert hits a floater but it is waved off for a travel! A big call there.
2nd (9:36): Scoochie Smith with two free throws to cut the lead to three. 48-45 VCU
2nd (9:48): JeQuan Lewis with a big three pointer to extend the lead to 5. Dayton could not get out to the open shooter.
2nd (10:45): Dayton earns a one-and-one but misses the front end.
2nd (10:47): Mo-Alie Cox gives the lead back to the Rams with a nice layup to finish a drive to the bucket. 45-43 VCU
Media Timeout: Dayton 43, VCU 43
2nd (11:45): We are tied! Dyshawn Pierre with the putback and we are level at 43 as we reach the under 12 media timeout.
2nd (12:02): Another VCU turnover, this time on the shot clock violation. Dayton is buzzing right now.
2nd (13:19): It is down to a three point with Jordan Sibert going to the line for two shots. His first is good. The second is missed. 43-41 VCU
2nd (14:23): Steal by Dayton what a great defensive read by Smith.
2nd (15:06): Dayton is having problems finding space in the VCU defense. The Rams just keep moving and moving.
2nd (15:31): Treveon Graham at the line to shoot two after being fouled on a drive to the bucket. He makes one of two. 43-38 VCU
Media Timeout: VCU 42, Dayton 38
2nd (16:03): Jordan Sibert with the steal and the bucket. A short 6-0 run by Dayton heading into the media timeout
2nd (16:28): Scoochie Smith heads to the line and makes both free throws. It is now 42-36 VCU.
2nd (17:48): Scoochie Smith with a great drive to the bucket that is answered quickly from VCU. 42-32 VCU
2nd (18:14): Mo Alie-Cox goes to the line for two free throws. The referees are going to the monitor. He makes one of two. The referees were looking to see who committed the foul
2nd (18:30): Pollard drives to the basket and earns the foul. He will shoot two free throws He makes the first and makes the second. 39-30 VCU.
2nd (19:00): We are back for the second half. VCU comes out with an early three pointer that is answered by a Dayton bucket in transition. 39-28 VCU
It has been a very interesting first half to this point. The biggest key in the second half will be who gets the last run. That team will likely walk out as the winners.
Halftime: VCU 33, Dayton 26
1st (0:00): JeQuan Lewis with a huge three pointer as the shot clock expired. A Dayton attempt at the buzzer is off the front rim and out.
1st (1:00): Melvin Johnson sinks a long distance three from NBA range.
1st (1:27): Terry Larrier sinks a three from the corner only to be answered by a Scoochie Smith layup and foul. His free throw attempt is missed. 27-26 VCU
1st (2:02): Treveon Graham misses a three. Jordan Burgess grabs the offensive rebound but he is called for a foul. Jordan Sibert heads to the line for Dayton where he makes one of two free throws. 24-24
1st (3:21): Scoochie Smith makes two free throws to give Dayton the lead that is short lived as the Rams answer with a layup. 24-23 VCU
Media Timeout: VCU 22, Dayton 21
1st (3:21): The story of this first half would be wild shots and turnovers.
1st (4:37): Kendall Polland breaks the drought with a hoop after a bump. He earns a free throw which he hits. VCU 22-21.
1st (5:00): THREE!!! VCU is now on a 10-0 and it is 22-18 VCU. Timeout Dayton
1st (5:25): Just like that, VCU is on a 7-0 run.
1st (6:00): DUNK! Mo Alie-Cox with the steal and the slam. 18-17 Dayton
1st (6:40): Dayton using some great spacing and screens to open up the VCU defense. A big bucket from Treveon Graham to make the bucket and earn the foul. The free throw is good. 18-15 Dayton
VCU has committed six turnovers so far. That is not a number that Shaka Smart will be happy with.
Media Timeout: Dayton 18, VCU 12
1st (7:29): A great defensive effort from VCU to deny the post forces a turnover from Dayton to led into the under eight timeout.
1st (8:12): Jordan Sibert sinks a three after a big offensive rebound from Bobby Wehrli. Timeout VCU. 18-12 Dayton
1st (8:58): Kendall Pollard finally breaks the scoreless drought for both schools with a power move inside and a layup. 15-12 Dayton
1st (9:49): It is a brick convention at the Barclays Center as both teams continue to miss shots. Did the staff set the rims too tight?
1st (10:32): Both teams continue to throw up wild shots from the low post. The shooting percentages are going to be very low in this one.
1st (10:56): Kyle Davis will go to the line after being fouled on a great backdoor cut. His first free throw is good. The second attempt is good. 13-12 Dayton
Media Timeout: VCU 12, Dayton 11
1st (11:45): A foul on Darrell Davis brings us to the second media timeout.
1st (11:55): Melvin Johnson breaks the shooting slump for VCU with a three from the corner. Another three from Treveon Graham. Dayton scores a few two point shots in their possessions. VCU 12-11
1st (13:27): Both schools are struggling to hit shots right now.
1st (14:28): Multiple turnovers as the speed increases, if that seems possible. A VCU fast break is whistled down due to some water on the court in front of the Dayton bench.
1st (15:00): A big block from VCU on the dunk attempt following the inbounds play after the media timeout.
Media Timeout: VCU 6, Dayton 5
1st (15:07): Both teams are playing aggresively on the glass. The pace is very fast as we reach the first media timeout.
1st (16:14): Dayton earns a bucket from Dyshawn Pierre, he hits the free throw to bring the score to 6-5 VCU.
1st (18:00): A great start from VCU jumping out to a 6-2 lead. They are establishing their Havoc defense early and it is making Dayton uncomfortable.
1st (20:00): VCU wins the tip and we are underway
The atmosphere is electric ahead of today's Atlantic 10 Championship Game. Both of these teams are in the NCAA Tournament according to VAVEL Bracketologist Matthew Evans, this will be a seeding game.
We are just moments away from the start at the Barclays Center. What a game we expect to see today.
Tip off is in about 30 minutes!
VCU's weakest loss was against St. Bonaventure. It was close to the end and St. Bonaventure pulled away late in the second half and hit a buzzer beater to win it. The game ended 73-71. This loss came when VCU was ranked 18th overall in the NCAA. At this point, Briante Weber had been lost for about a week. The Rams were still adjusting to life without him. Hopefully they will not miss him too much in today's game against Dayton.
VCU are 25-9 and fourth in the Atlantic 10 Conference. They sit behind Davidson, Dayton and Rhode Island. However, Dayton knocked Rhode Island out of the tournament. The Flyers snuck out a 56-52 win after a four point swing in the second half. It was close to the very end! VCU is ranked 54th in points per game, 127th in rebounds per game, 172nd in assists per game and 260th in field goal percentage. They have 72.5 points per game, 35.3 rebounds per game, 12.6 assists per game and they shoot 42 percent from the field.
Dayton's weakest loss was against the Arkansas Razorbacks. It seemed like the Flyers could never get in rhythm and that is why they lost, 69-55. It was not even close. They struggled in the first half, scoring just 23 points. Dayton picked it up and dominated the second half, but it was not enough.
Dayton are 25-7 and second in the Atlantic 10 Conference. They sit behind Davidson, who were knocked off by VCU. Davidson got slammed, 93-73 in that event. The Flyers are ranked 153rd in points per game, 304th in rebounds per game, 79th in assists per game and 48th in field goal percentage. They have 68.3 points per game, 31.4 rebounds per game, 13.9 assists per game and they have shot 47 percent on the season.
VCU is the better defensive team and they usually turn the "intense switch" on during this time of the season. Many are picking VCU because of these things, but do not be surprised if Dayton comes out just as intense as the rowdy Rams.
The Flyers are averaging 68.3 points on 47 percent shooting. They are allowing 60.6 points on 42 percent shooting. They allow just 31 percent shooting from the three point line and have not let opponents score more than 63 points in the last five-of-six events.
The Rams give up an average of 65.5 points per game on 43 percent shooting. They allow opponents to shoot 35 percent from deep and they have done a great job defensively, only giving up 67 points or less in their last seven game.
The VCU Rams are on a four game win streak and are looking to make it five. The Rams average 72.5 points on 42 percent shooting. They were much below average the last time these two teams met.
Dayton is led by Jordan Sibert, who scores 16.6 points per game. Dyshawn Pierre grabs 8.1 rebounds per game and is a force to be reckoned with in the game. Scoochie Smith is a facilitator, averaging 3.8 assists per game. The Flyers have five players averaging more than seven points per game, which shows why they will be a tough opponent to beat.
Leading the team for VCU is Trevor Graham with 16.2 points per game. He also averages 6.8 rebounds per game, which leads the team. Briante Weber is great with the ball in his hands, but he is more of a passer than a scorer. However, he will not be in action. He averages 4.3 assists per game. Melvin Johnson is another potent scorer. He averages 12.5 points and 1.8 assists per game. Mo Alie-Cox grabs 5.6 rebounds per game.
As for the Rams, they shot just 34 percent from the field and 24 percent from the three point line. VCU struggled from the stripe, only converting 13-of-20.
In that contest, which ended 59-55 in the favor of Dayton, the Flyers shot 42 percent from the field and 31 percent from long range. They cashed in on their free throws, making 10-of-11.
If VCU can actually take control of the game, force turnovers, and capitalize on them, then they might be okay in the long run.
"That's something that we have come to rely on quite a bit," VCU coach Shaka Smart said. "Scoring in fast-break situations, scoring on turnovers. Dayton did a good job limiting their turnovers, but even the turnovers we did force, we really weren't able to convert a lot of those into points."
The Rams struggled scoring off turnovers and did not even score a fast break point against the Flyers.
After the miss, Sibert hit two shots from the free throw line with 2.5 seconds left to close things out. "It was a good break for us," he said. "They had a great shot at the end, a great look at the basket. It was just one of those breaks that we got."
Treveon Graham missed a three point jumper and Mo Alie-Cox got the rebound, but could not score from in close.
Miller was exactly correct. The Rams had a huge second-half rally to pull close, but they just could not catch the break that they needed.
"The last five minutes was just survival," Dayton coach Archie Miller said.
These two parties last met on February 28, 2015 at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Dayton dropped VCU, who were ranked No. 22 at the time. Jordan Sibert fired away and came up with 19 points for the Flyers.
I am your host, Evan Petzold. You can follow me on Twitter @EvanPetzold to keep up with other scores and news from the sports world.
Hello and welcome to VAVEL USA's Live coverage of the Atlantic 10 Tournament Final between the Dayton Flyers and the VCU Rams. The game is being played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York with the tip-off scheduled for 1:00 PM ET.