Without coach, Cincinnati falls to VCU 68-47
CINCINNATI -- Melvin Johnson scored 18 points with four of Virginia Commonwealth's 15 3-pointers on Saturday in a 68-47 win over Cincinnati, which was playing without coach Mick Cronin.
The Bearcats (7-3) were dealing with the unexpected absence of their coach, who was diagnosed with an aneurysm that was revealed earlier in the day. A school release did not say where the aneurysm was in the 43-year old Cronin, who is in his ninth season with the team. Associate head coach Larry Davis will run the team in Cronin's absence.
VCU (8-3) held Cincinnati to 33 percent shooting and forced 15 turnovers. The Rams were 15 of 31 from 3-point range.
Cincinnati, which was led by Octavius Ellis' 12 points, had won its last 16 regular-season nonconference home games.
The Rams led 20-9 midway through the first half on the strength of six 3-pointers, two each by Terry Larrier and Jordan Burgess. The Rams had two more 3s in the first half to build a 34-21 lead and then scored the first seven points of the second half to go up by 20.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Antinio Petty
- Steve Olson
- Gary Maxwell
2024-25 Atlantic 10 Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| VCU | 15-3 | - | 28-7 |
| George Mason | 15-3 | - | 27-9 |
| Dayton | 12-6 | 3 | 23-11 |
| Loyola Chicago | 12-6 | 3 | 25-12 |
| Saint Joseph's | 11-7 | 4 | 22-13 |
| Saint Louis | 11-7 | 4 | 19-15 |
| St. Bonaventure | 9-9 | 6 | 22-12 |
| George Washington | 9-9 | 6 | 21-13 |
| Duquesne | 8-10 | 7 | 13-19 |
| Rhode Island | 7-11 | 8 | 18-13 |
| Massachusetts | 7-11 | 8 | 12-20 |
| Davidson | 6-12 | 9 | 17-16 |
| La Salle | 5-13 | 10 | 14-19 |
| Richmond | 5-13 | 10 | 10-22 |
| Fordham | 3-15 | 12 | 12-21 |
2024-25 Big 12 Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 19-1 | - | 35-5 |
| Texas Tech | 15-5 | 4 | 28-9 |
| BYU | 14-6 | 5 | 26-10 |
| Arizona | 14-6 | 5 | 24-13 |
| Iowa State | 13-7 | 6 | 25-10 |
| Kansas | 11-9 | 8 | 21-13 |
| West Virginia | 10-10 | 9 | 19-13 |
| Baylor | 10-10 | 9 | 20-15 |
| TCU | 9-11 | 10 | 16-16 |
| Kansas State | 9-11 | 10 | 16-17 |
| Utah | 8-12 | 11 | 16-17 |
| Cincinnati | 7-13 | 12 | 19-16 |
| UCF | 7-13 | 12 | 20-17 |
| Oklahoma State | 7-13 | 12 | 17-18 |
| Arizona State | 4-16 | 15 | 13-20 |
| Colorado | 3-17 | 16 | 14-21 |