RICHMOND, Va. – Treveon Graham scored 19 points and Virginia Commonwealth clinched its seventh consecutive 20-win season by beating Massachusetts 86-68 in the schools' first-ever meeting Thursday night.
VCU (20-5, 8-2 Atlantic 10 Conference) also got 18 points from Melvin Johnson, who hit 8 of 13 shots, including 2 of 4 3-point attempts. Rob Brandenberg added 12 points with four steals — the Rams forced 24 turnovers, including 15 steals, while committing just eight giveaways. VCU entered leading the country with 12 steals and 20.3 turnovers forced per game this season.
UMass led 42-37 at halftime, but VCU opened the second half on a 21-1 run over the first 8 minutes. The win was VCU's fourth straight.
Raphiael Putney scored 19 points with 10 rebounds to lead the Minutemen (16-7, 6-4). Chaz Williams, seventh nationally with 7.1 assists per game, had seven assists and nine rebounds but also committed six turnovers.
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