Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs VCU Rams Box Score on Nov 23, 2019

Marcus Evans scored all 16 of his points in the first half as No. 21 VCU built a 27-point halftime lead en route to a 78-48 victory against visiting Florida Gulf Coast at Richmond, Va., on Saturday night.

De'Riante Jenkins scored 11 points and Marcus Santos-Silva added nine points and 11 rebounds for the Rams, who have won five straight home games to start the season. VCU is 5-0 for the first time since 1993-94.

Caleb Catto scored 14 points for the Eagles (1-5), who trailed by as many as 35 points in the second half and never got within 21.

VCU's pressure halfcourt defense forced 27 FGCU turnovers that led to 37 points. The Rams had only eight turnovers.

VCU outscored FGCU 17-0 during the final 5:35 of the first half to build a 43-16 halftime bulge despite shooting 34.1 percent (14 of 41).

Evans scored 10 points in that closing run to end the half with 16 points, hitting 3 of 5 from behind the arc.

VCU forced the Eagles into committing 16 first-half turnovers that resulted in 22 points.

The Rams won the first-half board battle 27-17 and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds. Santos-Silva had nine rebounds.

Zach Scott, who entered as FGCU's leading scorer, went scoreless in the first half, missing all six shots. The Eagles shot 6 of 22 (27.3 percent).

The first 4:42 went without a field goal by either team. VCU's Issac Vann hit a jumper for the first basket.

The Rams went on a 12-2 run following a media timeout at 15:43 to build a 16-2 lead with 12:37 left.

VCU will play host to Alabama State at the Siegel Center in Richmond on Monday night in an on-campus game of the Emerald Coast Classic.

--Field Level Media