Jackson, Bairstow help VCU beat South Florida 70-65 in 2nd round of NIT
AP
Mar 24, 2024
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Zeb Jackson hit four 3-pointers and scored 14, Sean Bairstow added 13 points and sank two clutch free throws with 17 seconds remaining to help VCU Rams hold off South Florida Bulls 70-65 in the second round of the NIT on Sunday night.
Jackson made 4 of 7 attempts from beyond the arc and his only shot from inside it for the Rams (24-13), who travel to play Utah in a Wednesday quarterfinal. Bairstow hit 4 of 10 shots with a 3-pointer and all four of his free throws. His two late foul shots pushed a one-point lead to 68-65. He added six rebounds and four assists.
Christian Fermin and reserve Toibu Lawal scored 10 points apiece for VCU. Fermin blocked a pair of shots and Lawal made two free throws with two seconds to go to wrap up the victory.
Chris Youngblood scored 28 and grabbed six rebounds to pace the Bulls (25-8), who set a school record for wins this season. Kasean Pryor totaled 14 points and 10 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the season.
Jackson had eight points in the first half and his jumper with nine seconds left gave VCU a 32-30 lead at halftime.
Youngblood hit a 3-pointer to open the second half, giving South Florida its last lead. Jackson sandwiched two 3-pointers around a basket by Fermin in an 8-0 run and the Rams never trailed again - although the Bulls got within a point three times in the final 4:25.
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1st Half
VCU
Rams
32
USF
Bulls
30
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Christian Fermin vs. Kasean Pryor (Zeb Jackson gains possession)
19:30
Max Shulga misses two point jump shot
19:28
Brandon Stroud defensive rebound
19:07
Kobe Knox misses three point jump shot
19:05
Brandon Stroud offensive rebound
18:58
+2
Kasean Pryor makes two point dunk (Brandon Stroud assists)
0-2
18:38
Christian Fermin turnover (lost ball) (Brandon Stroud steals)
18:24
Chris Youngblood misses three point jump shot
18:22
Brandon Stroud offensive rebound
18:18
Kobe Knox misses two point layup
18:16
Sean Bairstow defensive rebound
18:07
+3
Max Shulga makes three point jump shot (Zeb Jackson assists)
3-2
17:49
+3
Kasean Pryor makes three point jump shot (Kobe Knox assists)
3-5
17:33
+3
Zeb Jackson makes three point jump shot (Kuany Kuany assists)
6-5
17:14
+2
Kasean Pryor makes two point jump shot (Brandon Stroud assists)
6-7
17:04
+3
Kuany Kuany makes three point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
9-7
16:49
Chris Youngblood misses three point jump shot
16:47
Brandon Stroud offensive rebound
16:47
Christian Fermin blocks Brandon Stroud's two point layup
16:45
Brandon Stroud offensive rebound
16:45
Kuany Kuany shooting foul (Brandon Stroud draws the foul)
16:45
Brandon Stroud misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:45
+1
Brandon Stroud makes regular free throw 2 of 2
9-8
16:16
Kuany Kuany misses two point jump shot
16:14
Kasean Pryor defensive rebound
16:08
Kasean Pryor misses three point jump shot
16:06
Rams defensive rebound
15:49
Brandon Stroud personal foul
15:49
TV timeout
15:29
+3
Zeb Jackson makes three point jump shot (Sean Bairstow assists)
12-8
15:12
+2
Kasean Pryor makes two point layup (Chris Youngblood assists)
12-10
14:48
Joe Bamisile misses three point jump shot
14:46
Selton Miguel defensive rebound
14:37
Joe Bamisile shooting foul (Chris Youngblood draws the foul)
14:37
+1
Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 1 of 3
12-11
14:37
+1
Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 2 of 3
12-12
14:37
+1
Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 3 of 3
12-13
14:07
Sean Bairstow misses two point jump shot
14:05
Rams offensive rebound
14:05
Rams turnover (shot clock violation)
13:49
+2
Chris Youngblood makes two point jump shot (Selton Miguel assists)
12-15
13:26
Max Shulga turnover (bad pass) (Jayden Reid steals)
13:17
Max Shulga blocks Jayden Reid's two point layup
13:15
Joe Bamisile defensive rebound
13:06
Max Shulga turnover (bad pass) (Selton Miguel steals)
12:56
Selton Miguel misses two point layup
12:54
Sean Bairstow defensive rebound
12:52
Joe Bamisile misses three point jump shot
12:50
Max Shulga offensive rebound
12:41
+2
Joe Bamisile makes two point layup (Max Shulga assists)
14-15
12:15
+2
Corey Walker Jr. makes two point dunk (Sam Hines Jr. assists)
14-17
11:58
Max Shulga turnover (bad pass) (Corey Walker Jr. steals)
11:47
Kobe Knox turnover (lost ball) (Michael Belle steals)
11:43
Selton Miguel shooting foul (Sean Bairstow draws the foul)
11:43
TV timeout
11:43
+1
Sean Bairstow makes regular free throw 1 of 2
15-17
11:43
+1
Sean Bairstow makes regular free throw 2 of 2
16-17
11:22
Selton Miguel misses three point jump shot
11:20
Rams defensive rebound
10:59
Jayden Reid shooting foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
10:59
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 1 of 2
17-17
10:59
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 2 of 2
18-17
10:33
+2
Selton Miguel makes two point layup
18-19
10:14
Max Shulga misses two point jump shot
10:12
Brandon Stroud defensive rebound
10:03
Selton Miguel misses three point jump shot
10:01
Corey Walker Jr. offensive rebound
9:47
Chris Youngblood turnover (bad pass) (Joe Bamisile steals)
9:45
Joe Bamisile turnover (out of bounds)
9:26
Kasean Pryor misses three point jump shot
9:24
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
9:00
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
8:58
Kasean Pryor defensive rebound
8:49
Kasean Pryor turnover (bad pass)
8:34
+3
Sean Bairstow makes three point jump shot
21-19
8:29
Bulls 30 second timeout
8:29
TV timeout
8:07
+2
Chris Youngblood makes two point jump shot (Jose Placer assists)