• Season: 2012-13
• Date: Saturday, March 16, 2013
• Opponent: Virginia Commonwealth (#25)
• Start Time: 4:00 PM ET
• Site: Barclays Center, Brooklyn NY
• Special Event: Atlantic 10 Tournament, Quarterfinal. Seeds: VCU 2, UMass 6.
• Television: CBS Sports Network
• Streaming video: none
• Radio / Streaming audio: UMass Radio Network

• Result: VCU 71, UMass 62
• Attendance: ?¹⁾

UMass gets another shot at VCU in Atlantic 10 semifinal round

Big VCU crowd, signature pressure will play big roles for UMass in Atlantic 10 semifinal

VCU vs. UMass: Expect a high-energy A-10 semifinal

See the UMassHoops.com Message Board thread for pre-game and post-game discussion.

Late VCU Run Gives Rams 71-62 Win Over Men's Hoops
Minutemen will find out Sunday their postseason fate
From UMass Athletics, 3/16/2013

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - A 13-to-6 run by No. 25 VCU in the final 4:27 sealed a 71-62 win over the UMass basketball team on Saturday afternoon in the Atlantic 10 Semifinal at the Barclays Center. After trailing by as many as 10 points in the second half, the Minutemen managed to cut the VCU lead to two points, 58-56, but the Rams forced five turnovers and held UMass to just one field goal to close out the final five minutes of play.

After wins over George Washington and Temple in the earlier rounds of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, UMass was considered by many media outlets to be “on the bubble” for the NCAA Tournament entering Saturday's game. The Minutemen will learn their postseason fate on Sunday evening.

The Minutemen (21-11) were led by Chaz Williams who had 18 points and Cady Lalanne who scored 14 points and added 12 rebounds. Sampson Carter and Maxie Esho each had strong games pulling down 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively. Carter also scored eight points, while Esho added six.

The Rams (26-7) were led by Troy Daniels who scored a game-high 20 points. Juvante Reddic added a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Daniels was instrumental in the first half for the Rams as VCU erased a nine-point UMass lead thanks to his 4-of-5 shooting effort from beyond the arc.

UMass struggled at periods of the game against VCU's high-pressure defense committing 24 turnovers while the Rams were forced into just eight miscues. Each team shot under 40 percent from the floor with the Minutemen held to just 3-of-11 from beyond the three-point line.

Midway through the first half, UMass built its largest lead of the weekend going up 20-11 over the Rams following a Williams jumper at the 11:26 mark. The Minutemen continued to maintain the lead after a Williams free throw with 6:39 to go put UMass up 23-15.

It took all of a minute for VCU to erase that lead thanks to three straight three pointers for Daniels whose third trey put the Rams ahead 24-23 with 4:13 left in the first half.

After a Freddie Riley three pointer two minutes later tied the game, Terrell Vinson put UMass back up 30-28 with 2:10 to go.

The lead was short-lived, however, as VCU retook the lead 24 seconds later and went into halftime up 35-34.

After Tyler Bergantino's putback at the 12:07 mark kept UMass within two points, 44-42, the Rams turned the defensive pressure back up. VCU used four turnovers to spark a 10-to-2 run taking a 54-44 lead two minutes after Bergantino's lay-up.

The Minutemen continued to chip away at the lead with a three-pointer from Trey Davis followed by a free throw at the 7:38 mark pulled UMass within four, 56-52.

Two minutes later, a defensive rebound by Lalanne led to a breakout lay-up by Williams to cut the VCU lead to 58-56 with 5:23 to go giving hope to the UMass faithful.

That hope was quickly dashed, however, after a missed UMass lay-up turned into a fastbreak lay-up for Briante Weber. Sampson Carter was called for a blocking foul while trying to draw a charge on Weber leading to a three-point swing. A UMass turnover on the next possession proved fateful when Daniels buried a three-pointer at the 4:18 mark putting the Rams up 64-56.

UMass was able to pull back within four on a tip-in by Lalanne with 2:35 to go, but Rob Brandenberg's three-pointer a minute later effectively sealed the game for VCU. UMass managed one free throw in the final 65 seconds as the Rams held on for the win.

UMass falls short of VCU in Atlantic 10 semifinals

UMass run in Atlantic 10 Championship ends with 71-62 defeat against VCU
UMass awaits NCAA Tournament fate after loss to VCU

UMass basketball eliminated from Atlantic 10 Tournament with loss to VCU
Sellner: UMass hoops passes eye test for NCAA Tournament

UMass loses to No. 25 VCU in Atlantic 10 semifinals

UMass loses, sweats

Rams find spark to surge past UMass into A-10 final

• Photo gallery: Atlantic 10, Richmond Times-Dispatch, VCU
• Video: Highlights
• Video: Press conference

Available at UMassAthletics.com