National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
VCU 96, Illinois St. 58
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, November 8, 2013
Where: Stuart C. Siegel Center, Richmond, Virginia
Officials: # Don Dailey, # Dan Chrisman, # Tyler Kumpf
Attendance: 7741
By SportsDirect Inc.

No. 15 Virginia Commonwealth 96, Illinois State 58: Treveon Graham and Terrance Shannon scored 14 points apiece as the host Rams pulled away early.

Juvonte Reddic added 13 points and eight rebounds and Rob Brandenberg scored 12 for VCU (1-0). Briante Weber, the Atlantic-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season, contributed nine points, eight assists and five steals for the Rams.

Zach Lofton scored 12 points to lead Illinois State (0-1), the only team in the Missouri Valley Conference without a returning starter. Paris Lee, Daishon Knight and Jamaal Samuel were the next highest scorers for the Redbirds with nine points each.

Illinois State missed 15 of its first 16 field goal attempts as the Rams surged to a 35-8 lead behind three straight 3-pointers from Melvin Johnson, who finished with 11 points. The Rams had five turnovers in the game’s first nine minutes before finishing with 14.

The Rams held a 52-22 lead at the half after shooting 68.8 percent from the floor. They extended their lead to 41 points with 10 minutes remaining.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Knight was reinstated to the team Thursday after pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery and resisting arrest for an August incident in Bloomington, Ill. … The only other year Illinois State opened against a top 25 team was against Purdue in 1987. … Nine players made their Division I debut for VCU and 10 for Illinois State.
Top Game Performances
 
Illinois St.   VCU
Zach Lofton 12 Scoring Treveon Graham 14
Bobby Hunter 2 Assists Briante Weber 8
John Jones 7 Rebounds Juvonte Reddic 8
Zach Lofton 5 Free Throws Made Jordan Burgess 3
Paris Lee 6 Steals Briante Weber 5
N/A Blocks Terrance Shannon 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Illinois St. 58 31.7 4-23 14-21 9 31 0 6 22
VCU 96 55.4 9-20 15-26 26 45 4 14 16