DAYTON, Ohio — In a tightly contested match on Friday night, VCU secured a 73-68 win over Dayton, thanks in large part to Zeb Jackson’s impactful performance off the bench, where he contributed 17 points.
Jackson also collected five rebounds for the Rams, who improved their season record to 19-5 and 9-2 within the Atlantic 10 Conference. Alongside Jackson, Max Shulga delivered an impressive game, scoring 16 points while adding eight rebounds and recording three steals. Phillip Russell chipped in with 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting, including two successful three-point attempts.
For the Flyers, who currently hold a record of 16-8 and 6-5 in conference play, Nate Santos was the leading scorer with 18 points and seven rebounds. Javon Bennett supported the effort with 16 points and five steals, while Zed Key contributed eight points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
In the first half, Russell helped VCU take a slim lead into halftime, scoring eight points and closing the period ahead 31-28. The Rams made a significant push in the second half, launching a 12-0 run that overturned a five-point deficit and brought the score to 66-59 with just over a minute left on the clock. Jackson was instrumental in this surge, tallying 13 points during the later stages of the game.
Both teams are set to return to action on Wednesday, with VCU traveling to face George Washington while Dayton heads to Fordham.