Joe Bamisile collected 18 points and nine rebounds to help VCU down Boston College 80-55 on Friday night as part of the Veterans Classic in Annapolis, Md. Phillip Russell posted a team-high 20 points for the Rams (2-0), who dominated on the glass for most of the game and outrebounded the Eagles 46-41. Christian Fermin chipped in 12 points, Jack Clark had 10 and Max Shulga finished with nine points and 10 rebounds.
Boston College (1-1) got 17 points from Donald Hand Jr. after the sophomore guard went for 22 in a season-opening, 69-60 victory over The Citadel on Monday. Hand also snatched eight boards but turned the ball over four times Friday.
Roger McFarlane finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds as the Eagles were outshot 43.3 percent to 29.3 percent from the field.
With the score tied at 6-all early in the first half, VCU took over, scoring 15 of the next 17 points to build a 21-8 lead with 9:46 left until the break. Bamisile headlined the charge with a pair of triples, while Clark hit one. A jumper and a 3-pointer from McFarlane ignited an 8-0 spurt that got Boston College within five, 21-16, with 6:38 to go.
However, the Rams dominated the rest of the first half, closing the period on a 12-4 run to take a 33-20 advantage into intermission. VCU had its lead up to 20 just 3:03 into the second half thanks to a layup from Bamisile that made it 42-22. Hand and McFarlane were later responsible for eight of 10 Eagles points during one stretch, but Boston College was essentially.
