This week in Assist Map Mondays, we circle back to Davidson basketball for an important game early in the nonconference season. On Saturday, January 13, the Davidson Wildcats defeated the VCU Rams 64-57.
With both teams heading into the game with an 11-4 overall record and 2-0 within the conference, this one was bound to be a close and exciting game. VCU is perennially known for their stingy defense, and this year is no exception. The Rams rank seventh in adjusted defensive efficiency this season and currently stand as KenPom’s 61st best team. The Wildcats’ defense, while not as dominant as the Rams’, has been solid this year, coming in at #73 in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Both teams’ defenses were at the forefront of this particular game. Davidson held VCU to 19-51 (37.3%) from the field, including just 4-24 (16.7%) from three. The Rams, despite shooting just 28.9% (336th in the country) from beyond the arc this season, surprisingly rank 71st in the nation in three-point attempts per field goal attempts at 43.4. Davidson was also held to 21-55 (38.2%) from the field but found more success from three (7-20, or 35%).
Luka Brajkovic led the team in the assist column with five, with four going to Kellan Grady—the leading game scorer with 21 points—and the other going to Luke Frampton. Grady dished out three assists himself, with two going to KiShawn Pritchett and the other one going back to Brajkovic. Finally, Carter Collins distributed two assists, one each to Grady and Frampton.
Unfortunately, this was the only meeting between the two teams this year. Nonetheless, both Davidson and VCU should continue to compete toward the top of the A-10 standings for the rest of the season.
