SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. (WRIC) — The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rams Men’s Basketball team has been eliminated from the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) after a 74-54 loss to the Utah Utes in the quarterfinal.
The Rams came into the game with the 21st-lowest opposing field goal percentage in Division I basketball with 40.58%, as well as the 32-lowest opposing three-point percentage with 31%.
The Rams’ defense was not enough to stop the Utes, who came into the game with the 14th-highest assists per game with 17.5 and the 35th-highest three-pointers per game with nine.
VCU’s Sean Bairstow led the team in scoring with 13 points, he also grabbed four rebounds. Center Christian Fermin scored eight points and grabbed nine rebounds. Guard and Chesterfield County native Joe Bamisile had three points, three rebounds and two assists off the bench.
Utes forward Gabe Madsen led the team in scoring with 18, center Branden Carlson scored 17 points. Guard Deivon Smith recorded a triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.
