Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Game
Score: #1 VCU 68, #2 George Mason 63
Location: Washington, D.C. (Capital One Arena)
Records: VCU 28-6, George Mason 26-8
 
The short story: Max Shulga and Luke Bamgboye provided crucial late buckets, and tournament Most Outstanding Player Jack Clark supplied 17 points and six rebounds as VCU held off a second-half charge by George Mason to claim the 2025 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Sunday at Capital One Arena. With the victory, VCU's second in three years, the Rams advance to the NCAA Tournament for the 20^th time in program history.
 
OPENING TIP

• Shulga finished with a game-high 18 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Black and Gold
• Clark knocked down 4-of-8 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. He also connected on 6-of-7 from the free throw line and blocked three shots
• Joe Bamisile added 17 points for the Rams, while Bamgboye contributed five points, eight rebounds and four blocks
• Jalen Haynes led the Patriots with 17 points

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU led by as many as 10 points with 9:08 to go, but George Mason whittled that advantage to just 59-58 with 2:27 left on back-to-back 3-pointers by Darius Maddox and Haynes
• But Shulga hit a stepback triple with 1:59 on the clock, and Bamgboye hammered home a two-handed putback dunk a short time later to keep the Patriots at bay at 64-60 with 67 seconds showing. Shulga and Bamisile combined to hit 4-of-4 from the free throw line in the final minute, and a late jumper by Haynes caromed wide as VCU held on
• VCU outrebounded George Mason 36-33
• The Rams held the Patriots to 34 percent (19-of-56) shooting in the game

NOTABLE

• The Rams have now won three A-10 Tournament titles (2015, 2023, 2025)
• VCU has earned its 20^th NCAA berth, including its 14^th since 204

NEXT UP
VCU will await its opponent and destination for the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, which will be held March 20-21.