Atlantic 10 Conference Semifinals
Score: No. 1 VCU 62, Loyola Chicago 55
Location: Washington, D.C. (Capital One Arena)
Records: VCU 27-6, Loyola Chicago 22-11 

The short story: Graduate guard Zeb Jackson slammed home a go-ahead dunk with 4:55 remaining to spark at 9-0 VCU run, and the Rams held Loyola Chicago without a field goal for the final 5:10 to earn a hard-fought Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament semifinal victory Saturday at Capital One Arena. With the win, the top-seeded Rams advance to the league's championship game for the third straight season.
 
OPENING TIP

• Max Shulga recorded a double-double with a game-high 14 points and 10 rebounds
• Phillip Russell was the only other Ram in double figures with 10 points
• Jack Clark scored seven points and grabbed eight boards
• Luke Bamgboye had a game-high four blocks and six points
• Loyola Chicago was led by Miles Rubin who had 12 points and eight rebounds

THE DIFFERENCE

• VCU shot 43.1 percent from the floor (22-of-51) and held Loyola to just 29.4 percent shooting from the field (20-of-68)
• Loyola Chicago led 22-9 in offensive rebounds and held a 17-4 advantage in second chance points
• The Rams and Ramblers went back-and-forth in the first half with three ties and three lead changes. The teams were tied at 21-21 with 5:50 left before halftime but a 14-2 VCU run capped off by a Russell 3-pointer gave the Rams a 35-23 advantage with 1:37 left before halftime
• VCU held a 36-27 lead at the half after the Ramblers scored the final four points of the half
• The Rams led 45-38 with 10:08 left after a Bamgboye free throw but the Ramblers went on a 13-5 run to take a 51-50 lead with 5:10 left
• VCU didn't allow a single field goal and closed the game on an 11-4 run to pull away for the win

NOTABLE

• VCU advances to its ninth A-10 Championship game since joining the league in 2012-13
• Luke Bamgboye moved into ninth place all-time at VCU for single-season blocks with 70
• It is the third double-double of the season for Max and eighth of his collegiate career

NEXT UP
The Rams face either No. 2 seed George Mason or No. 6 seed Saint Joseph's at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 16. The game will air nationally on CBS.