VCU Rams Aim to Sustain Winning Streak Against UMass Minutemen

RICHMOND, Va. — The VCU Rams will look to continue their pursuit of the Atlantic 10 title when they face the Massachusetts Minutemen in a critical league matchup on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. ET at the Siegel Center. VCU is coming off an 80-72 victory over George Washington on Feb. 12, while UMass is seeking a resurgence after dropping a 73-59 game to St. Bonaventure.

VCU (20-5, 10-2 Atlantic 10) currently sits second in the conference and remains unbeaten at home with a 12-0 record. In contrast, UMass (11-15, 6-7 Atlantic 10) is tied for seventh in the standings and holds a 4-4 road record this season.

In terms of betting odds, VCU is favored by 16.5 points according to the latest SportsLine consensus, with the over/under for total points set at 148.5. SportsLine’s projection model, which simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times, suggests an under projection, estimating a total of 144 points.

The Rams are riding a four-game winning streak and have won 10 of their last 11 games. Senior guard Ace Bamisile plays a pivotal role for VCU, averaging 15.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 25 starts this season. In the recent win against George Washington, Bamisile recorded 14 points and five rebounds.

UMass’ senior guard, Noah Fernandes, is a critical player for the Minutemen, contributing 17.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He showcased his scoring prowess recently with a 34-point performance in a 78-55 victory over La Salle.

With injuries affecting both teams, UMass’ sophomore guard is questionable with a wrist injury, while senior forward Samba Diallo has stepped up offensively, averaging 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in the past few games. Rivera recently posted a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds against Saint Louis.

The last nine matchups between VCU and UMass favor the Rams, who have secured seven wins. This includes victories in two out of three matchups last season, signaling their dominance in this rivalry.

As Wednesday approaches, basketball fans anticipate what should be an engaging contest as VCU aims to affirm its conference standing while UMass seeks a crucial win to bolster its playoff ambitions.