Davidson Wildcats, N.C. (AP) Davidson's stint in the AP Top 25 might have been a short one.
Vince Williams scored 16 points, Mikeal Brown-Jones had a huge block with 2 seconds left and VCU Rams held off a furious rally from No. 25 Davidson to win 70-68 on Wednesday night, snapping the Wildcats' 15-game winning streak.
Adrian Baldwin Jr. added 15 points as the Rams (12-6, 5-2 Atlantic 10) avenged a 63-61 loss to the Wildcats eight days ago.
''Them being in the top 25 gave us more motivation, and we still had a chip on our shoulder,'' Baldwin said.
Davidson (16-3, 6-1) was off to its best start since the 1964-65 season, and its 15 consecutive wins were tied with No. 1 Auburn for the longest streak in the nation. But the Wildcats struggled at times with the Rams' pressure defense and committed 15 turnovers. VCU had eight turnovers.
''This is a really hard place to win in the A-10,'' VCU coach Mike Rhoades said. ''I'm really proud of our guys.''
Luke Brajkovic had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead Davidson, which suffered its first loss since falling to New Mexico State in the first round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational on Nov. 18.
Davidson trailed by 15 with 5 1/2 minutes remaining before rallying to cut the lead to one in the final minute.
Brajkovic was fouled and made two free throws make it a four-point game with 2:20 to go. Then, with 1:32 remaining, Davidson's Foster Loyer was fouled on a 3-point attempt as the shot clock was winding down and made three free throws, cutting the lead to one.
After Baldwin missed a driving layup, Davidson had a chance to take the lead but Brajkovic was called for pushing off as he battled for position in the low post with 13.5 seconds left. Baldwin made 1 of 2 free throws, giving the Wildcats another chance.
But Brown-Jones blocked Brajkovic's 3-point attempt with 2 seconds left.
''I don't think we played particularly well, but I thought we fought exceptionally well,'' Davidson coach Bob McKillop said. ''We cannot let one loss become two losses. We cannot let a loss disrupt us, nor allow that loss to flavor what has just transpired in the last two months. Many teams have (several) poor performances, and we've had one in two months. And yet we still valiantly fought back and put ourselves in position to win at the end.''
It was a battle of conflicting styles.
With a big height advantage, Davidson was content to pound the ball inside to the 6-foot-10 Brajkovic and 6-9 Sam Mennenga. VCU tried to use its speed and athleticism, pressing the Wildcats full-court throughout the game while settling for 3-point shots on the offensive end.
VCU shot 7 of 14 from long range while Davidson just 3 of 14 from beyond the arc.
VCU knocked down 7 of 11 3s in the first half - including three by Jayden Nunn - to take a 37-29 lead at the break. Brajkovic had 14 points in the half, but the Wildcats were 2 of 7 from long distance and Loyer, a 47% 3-point shooter, couldn't find room to shoot over VCU's taller guards. Loyer attempted just one 3-pointer in the game.
South Korea native Hyunjung Lee had 14 points and Loyer added 10 for the Wildcats as the duo combined to go 18 of 18 from the free-throw line to help get Davison back in the game.
''I think to fight back like we did, this shows how resilient we are,'' Brajkovic said.
BIG PICTURE
VCU: The Rams moved into a tie for third place in the Atlantic 10 with Dayton and gained a resume-building win.
Davidson: The loss will almost certainly knock the Wildcats out of the Top 25 regardless of what they do on Saturday against La Salle. The Wildcats remain atop the A-10, ahead of George Mason (3-1).
UP NEXT
VCU: Visits Richmond on Saturday.
Davidson: Hosts La Salle on Saturday.
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1st Half
VCU
Rams
37
DAV
Wildcats
29
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Vince Williams vs. Luka Brajkovic (Foster Loyer gains possession)
19:52
+2
Luka Brajkovic makes two point dunk (Sam Mennenga assists)
0-2
19:37
Levi Stockard III offensive foul
19:37
Levi Stockard III turnover
19:25
Sam Mennenga misses two point dunk
19:23
Hason Ward defensive rebound
19:08
+2
KeShawn Curry makes two point layup (Vince Williams assists)
2-2
18:47
Luka Brajkovic misses two point layup
18:45
KeShawn Curry defensive rebound
18:20
+3
Vince Williams makes three point jump shot (Jayden Nunn assists)
5-2
18:01
Michael Jones misses three point jump shot
17:59
KeShawn Curry defensive rebound
17:52
Jayden Nunn misses three point jump shot
17:50
Sam Mennenga defensive rebound
17:44
+3
Hyunjung Lee makes three point jump shot (Foster Loyer assists)
5-5
17:23
Hason Ward misses two point jump shot
17:21
Luka Brajkovic defensive rebound
17:08
Sam Mennenga misses two point jump shot
17:06
Luka Brajkovic offensive rebound
17:03
+2
Luka Brajkovic makes two point layup
5-7
16:37
Jayden Nunn misses two point layup
16:35
Luka Brajkovic defensive rebound
16:13
+2
Luka Brajkovic makes two point layup
5-9
15:52
Vince Williams misses three point jump shot
15:50
Michael Jones defensive rebound
15:31
Sam Mennenga offensive foul
15:31
Sam Mennenga turnover
15:31
TV timeout
15:08
Jalen DeLoach misses two point jump shot
15:06
Hyunjung Lee defensive rebound
14:58
Jayden Nunn blocks Foster Loyer's two point jump shot
14:56
KeShawn Curry defensive rebound
14:49
Nelson Boachie-Yiadom shooting foul (Vince Williams draws the foul)
14:49
Vince Williams misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:49
+1
Vince Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2
6-9
14:26
Hyunjung Lee misses three point jump shot
14:24
Vince Williams defensive rebound
14:16
Nelson Boachie-Yiadom blocks Jalen DeLoach's two point layup
14:14
Desmond Watson defensive rebound
14:04
Vince Williams personal foul
13:52
Jalen DeLoach personal foul (Luka Brajkovic draws the foul)
13:47
+2
Hyunjung Lee makes two point jump shot
6-11
13:32
+2
KeShawn Curry makes two point layup
8-11
13:16
Foster Loyer offensive foul (KeShawn Curry draws the foul)
13:16
Foster Loyer turnover
12:55
+3
Adrian Baldwin Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jalen DeLoach assists)
11-11
12:44
Adrian Baldwin Jr. personal foul
12:30
+2
Luka Brajkovic makes two point hook shot
11-13
12:16
+2
KeShawn Curry makes two point layup
13-13
11:57
TV timeout
11:49
Michael Jones misses three point jump shot
11:47
Vince Williams defensive rebound
11:31
+2
Levi Stockard III makes two point layup (KeShawn Curry assists)
15-13
11:15
Vince Williams personal foul (Nelson Boachie-Yiadom draws the foul)
10:56
Mikeal Brown-Jones shooting foul (Sam Mennenga draws the foul)
10:56
Sam Mennenga misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:56
Sam Mennenga misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:56
Mikeal Brown-Jones defensive rebound
10:31
Mikeal Brown-Jones misses two point layup
10:29
Josh Banks offensive rebound
10:26
Josh Banks misses two point layup
10:24
Desmond Watson defensive rebound
10:21
Desmond Watson turnover (carrying)
10:11
Levi Stockard III misses two point jump shot
10:09
Luka Brajkovic defensive rebound
9:42
Luka Brajkovic misses two point layup
9:40
Sam Mennenga offensive rebound
9:36
+2
Sam Mennenga makes two point layup
15-15
9:31
+2
Mikeal Brown-Jones makes two point layup
17-15
9:01
Sam Mennenga misses two point layup
8:59
Marcus Tsohonis defensive rebound
8:41
Adrian Baldwin Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Michael Jones steals)
8:36
+2
Michael Jones makes two point dunk
17-17
8:16
+2
Marcus Tsohonis makes two point jump shot
19-17
7:50
Desmond Watson turnover (lost ball) (Levi Stockard III steals)
7:47
Desmond Watson flagrant 1 (Levi Stockard III draws the foul)
7:47
TV timeout
7:47
+1
Levi Stockard III makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2
20-17
7:47
Levi Stockard III misses flagrant free throw 2 of 2
7:44
Hyunjung Lee shooting foul (Adrian Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
7:44
Adrian Baldwin Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:44
Adrian Baldwin Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:44
Adrian Baldwin Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:44
Michael Jones defensive rebound
7:20
Luka Brajkovic turnover (lost ball) (Adrian Baldwin Jr. steals)
7:07
Marcus Tsohonis misses two point jump shot
7:05
Luka Brajkovic defensive rebound
6:47
Luka Brajkovic misses two point layup
6:45
Luka Brajkovic offensive rebound
6:41
Luka Brajkovic misses two point layup
6:39
Hason Ward defensive rebound
6:27
Marcus Tsohonis misses three point jump shot
6:24
Rams offensive rebound
6:24
Jump ball. (Rams gains possession)
6:20
Hason Ward offensive foul
6:20
Hason Ward turnover
6:00
+2
Luka Brajkovic makes two point jump shot
20-19
5:45
Levi Stockard III offensive foul
5:45
Levi Stockard III turnover
5:26
Foster Loyer turnover (lost ball)
5:13
+3
Jayden Nunn makes three point jump shot (Adrian Baldwin Jr. assists)
23-19
4:54
Hyunjung Lee misses three point jump shot
4:52
Luka Brajkovic offensive rebound
4:48
Jalen DeLoach personal foul (Luka Brajkovic draws the foul)
4:48
+1
Luka Brajkovic makes regular free throw 1 of 2
23-20
4:48
+1
Luka Brajkovic makes regular free throw 2 of 2
23-21
4:33
Hason Ward misses two point layup
4:31
Mikeal Brown-Jones offensive rebound
4:28
Mikeal Brown-Jones misses two point layup
4:26
Nelson Boachie-Yiadom defensive rebound
4:21
+3
Michael Jones makes three point jump shot (Luka Brajkovic assists)