• Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 7) – Facing a preseason top-20 team in both the USA Today Coaches and Associated Press polls, the Vulcans dropped a 92-43 exhibition to VCU at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday night.

The Rams, who are led by former Cal U assistant coach Shaka Smart, were the unanimous preseason favorite to win the Atlantic-10 Conference. VCU made its fourth-straight appearance NCAA Tournament last season and finished with a 26-9 record.

Junior transfers Richard Smith (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East) and Khalil Jabbie (Alexandria, Va./Edison) led the team with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Smith connected on 6-of-10 attempts, while adding three rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Fellow junior Josh Dombrosky (Shenandoah Heights, Pa./Shenandoah Valley) added five points after making three-of-four from the free-throw line.

The Rams opened the game on a 7-1 run before the Vulcans cut the deficit to 7-5 after a jumper by Smith with 17:01 to play in the first half. VCU then used a 26-6 run over a nine-minute stretch before taking a 46-14 halftime lead. The Vulcans shot just 20 percent (5-of-25) from the floor in the first half, while the Rams shot over 50 percent (19-of-37) in the opening half.

Cal U out-scored VCU by an 11-7 mark early in the second half to pull within 55-25 with 12:54 remaining. However, the Rams responded by closing the game on a 37-18 run. Smith scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half and Jabbie posted nine of his 11 points after halftime.

The Vulcans finished the game shooting 29.1 percent (16-of-55) from the field and 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Rams shot 54.9 percent (39-of-71) from the floor and 42.9 percent (12-of-28) from three-point territory.

VCU junior Melvin Johnson scored a game-high 20 points and was one of four players in double-figures for the Rams.

Cal U opens up the regular season on Friday, Nov. 14, when it faces Johnson C. Smith in a tip-off tournament hosted by IUP at 5:30 p.m.